"Anyway, tonight Father forced me to admit everything. When he learned that Jimmie would be at the old sawmill, he determined to come here and try to save him from his own folly. Oh, Miss Nichols, do you think they'll keep Jimmie in jail?"
"Not if I can prevent it," Penny returned firmly. "Come on, I want you to repeat to Father what you've just told me."
The girls found Mr. Nichols and a group of policemen talking with Jerome Davis. The latter looked completely discouraged.
"I'm not asking you to believe my story or to let Jimmie go free," he said quietly. "My son has broken the law and he must be punished the same as any other offender. Of course I shall resign my position on the force immediately."
"That may not be necessary," Mr. Nichols told him kindly. "In my opinion you've already proven that you had no hand in the affair."
"It was my fault that the raid failed," the policeman accused himself. He turned to his son. "Jimmie, you were the one who tipped off the gang that it was to be staged?"
"Yes, Father," the boy admitted. "I dropped it out before I thought. I didn't mean to do it."
"I take all the blame," Jerome Davis said quietly. "I should never have mentioned the affair at home."
He moved over to his son, placing his hand upon his shoulder for an instant. Then he turned sternly back to the group of officers.
"Do your duty, men," he directed.