“Yes, I did,” answered Philip, with well-feigned eagerness. “Just as I was going to bed, I went into the next room, where the trunk is, and, turning to look out of the window, I was quite startled to see Harry Gilbert’s face close to the window. The light shining through the doorway was quite strong enough for him to see the trunk and keys lying on your desk. It’s as sure as can be that he took the bonds. You see, he could slip in after I went upstairs, and there was nothing to prevent. He might have been lurking around when you were examining the bonds last night, and saw you place them back in the envelope.”
“What is all this about?” asked Mrs. Ross, entering the room at this point.
It was explained to her, and she instantly adopted her son’s view.
“Phil’s hit the nail on the head, I do believe,” she said. “I didn’t think he was so sharp. Colonel Ross, I have no doubt the Gilbert boy took the bonds.”
“Then, why didn’t he take more?” asked Ross.
“Oh, he got frightened—thought he heard a noise, or perhaps he thought it would not be discovered so quick if he only took two. There are reasons enough.”
Philip and Mrs. Ross assumed so confident a tone that Colonel Ross, though at first inclined to discredit the charge, ended by believing it very probable.
“This thing must be attended to,” he said. “What are you going to do about it, pa?”
“I shall go before Justice Slocum, and get a warrant to search Widow Gilbert’s house. If I find anything, I shall have Harry arrested.”
“Now, you’re in a scrape, Harry Gilbert,” said Philip to himself, exultantly.