"Tad's feet were big," said Rose. "Or, anyhow, he had on big shoes. He said they didn't belong to him, but they were the best he could find."
"Wait a minute now, before we get to thinking Tad did this," said Captain Ben. "Weren't there some tramps around last night, Mr. Brown?"
"Well, there was somebody in my orchard," answered the farmer. "I reckon they were tramps."
"Maybe one of the tramps took your wife's box of jewelry from your room," went on the marine.
"I never thought of them!" said Mrs. Brown. "I don't want to lose my nice jewelry, but I'd rather it was taken by tramps than by Tad. He seemed to be a nice boy!"
"Maybe it isn't stolen at all," suggested Russ. "Once my mother thought her watch was stolen and she found it afterward in the bathroom."
"Well, I wish I could find my wrist watch," said Captain Ben.
"Was that taken, too, last night?" asked Mr. Brown.
"No, I missed that when we were packing to take the six little Bunkers to my bungalow at Grand View," was the answer. "I guess I'll never find my watch. But it is possible that you may have put your jewelry somewhere else, Mrs. Brown. We'd better look."
But the farmer's wife was sure she had placed the box on the table at the head of her bed near the open window, and a search all through the house did not bring it to light. So the jewelry was gone, and Tad was gone, and there was no sign of the tramps.