Tom’s three chums gave expression to these sentiments as they looked over the bunch of pawn tickets he had brought away with him from the Mexican’s shack. A hasty glance through them had shown Tom that none was for a brooch, and realizing that he could still keep Ruth’s secret, he had decided to tell his friends the whole story. Which he did, keeping back only as much as was necessary not to let them know of Ruth’s loss.
He related how he had overheard a “certain” conversation between Boswell and the Mexican, hurrying over that part of the story so they might not ask what the talk was about. Then he told of his own and Blasdell’s visits to the shack.
“Say, this beats anything I ever heard of!” declared Frank.
“That’s right, but what did the old beggar hide—if anything?” asked Sid.
“The pawn tickets, of course,” declared Phil.
“I’m not sure of that, of course,” spoke Tom.
“I didn’t see him, for I couldn’t look out far enough from under the cot. But he was certainly on that side of the room. And he didn’t hide the cups and jewelry, for they’re in pawn, as these tickets show. So it must have been the tickets.”
“Then if he had the tickets he took the stuff!” declared Sid.
“Not necessarily,” objected Frank. “The Mexican and this Blasdell may be in partnership in crime. Either or both may have taken the jewelry, and Blasdell may have pawned it. Anyhow, I think this lets Boswell out, and I’m glad of it.”