“May we see Mr. Brown?” asked Tom.
The guard said he had no right to permit them to do so, but that the acting commanding officer might give his permission. Rather than disturb the officer, Tom and Hippy decided to await his coming.
“This looks serious,” muttered Hippy.
“I hope Stacy looks upon it in the same light,” answered Tom.
Promptly at nine o’clock Lieutenant Chambers arrived at the office. Tom and Hippy followed him in and introduced themselves, explaining why they were there.
“I know nothing about the case, except that I have been informed that Sergeant Stape of the Park guards made an arrest last evening. I will have the young man brought in at once, and we shall soon see if he is the one you gentlemen are looking for,” said Lieutenant Chambers.
Following the lieutenant’s command to his orderly, Stacy Brown entered the office, assuming a painful limp as he walked, his face red and his hair crumpled as if it had not been combed in some time. After him came Sergeant Stape and a civilian, a surly-faced, bewhiskered fellow, whose shifty eyes avoided those of the officer and the Overland Riders present.
Lieutenant Chambers perused the written report of the arresting guard. As he laid the paper down, Elfreda Briggs tripped into the room and quietly took a seat behind Tom and Hippy, who frowned their disapproval at her coming there. Stacy grinned sheepishly at Elfreda and sat down.
“Don’t be cross, you two. Grace insisted that I come,” whispered Elfreda to Tom and Hippy. “Just leave this affair in my hands.”
“Sergeant Stape, you will state what you know about this case,” commanded the officer tersely.