“So am I!” exclaimed Tom, and yet he wondered what the rich student and the Mexican could have in common, and he wondered about the old-fashioned brooch he had seen flashing in the sun, when the two talked in the boat. Also he wondered what Boswell wanted of another like it. In fact Tom was doing considerable wondering, and it was a puzzle in the solution of which he could not ask his chums’ aid.
“So that’s why you wanted us to go get the shell, and leave you here; is it?” asked Phil.
“Yes, I wanted time to investigate, and I didn’t want you fellows to give me the ha ha! if nothing came of it.”
“But lots did come of it!” declared Frank. “We can clear ourselves of the faint suspicion that I believe Boxer Hall thinks hangs over us, and we can get them back their trophy cups, and the other people their jewelry.”
“Yes, I suppose the pawnbroker can be made to give up stolen stuff,” said Tom. He was puzzling his brains to think of some reason why Ruth’s brooch was not pawned with the other things. Recalling the list of missing articles, given out when the jeweler offered the reward, it was seen that all were represented by the pawn tickets, save Ruth’s trinket.
“They’re made out in the name ‘A. Smith,’” said Phil, as he scrutinized the bits of paper. “Might be a blacksmith for all you can tell—probably a fake name. And the pawnbroker’s place is in Munroe,” he went on, naming a town about twenty-five miles away.
“Well,” spoke Tom, “I suppose the thing to do is to go there, see the police, get the stuff, and return it to the jeweler. Then he can do as he likes with it.”
“Incidentally we’ll collect the reward,” declared Sid.
“We’ll donate it to the new racing association,” suggested Frank. “Wouldn’t it be a joke, if we did take that part of the reward offered by Boxer Hall, and use it to help beat them in the race!”
“Sort of adding insult to injury,” suggested Tom. “But I’m thinking we ought to let the Boxer Hall lads know about these tickets, and that there’s a prospect of them getting back their trophies.”