“No. Rogers, the constable, said I could not take them till I had proved them to be my property. He is a stupid old countryman, and knows nothing about law. He was evidently prejudiced in favor of the Gilberts.”
“Well, what did you do with Harry?”
“He ought to have been taken to the lockup, but the constable didn’t want to do it, and I agreed that he might stay in the house, under guard of the constable, of course, for I apprehended the boy might make an effort to run away.”
“Did he seem much frightened?” asked Philip, curiously.
“No; he seemed very indignant at being suspected. Of course, it was all put on. He was actually insolent, and defied me to take the bonds. I suppose he thought he could put me off the scent by his bravado.”
“What are you going to do to-morrow?” asked Philip.
“I shall have him taken before a magistrate, and shall formally charge him with the theft.”
“What did Uncle Obed say?” inquired Philip, suddenly.
“It really is of very little consequence what that old man said,” returned Colonel Ross, stiffly. “Of course, he sided with the Gilberts, and he actually had the effrontery to say that the bonds had been in the house for several days.”
“He couldn’t have given the bonds to Harry, could he?”