“No one has accused you, Jack. It’s clear though, that you know plenty about the matter.”
“I read about it in the paper.”
“I think you know more than the facts you have read, Jack. Why don’t you come clean?”
“You turned me in!”
“We’re law abiding citizens, Jack,” Mr. Hatfield argued. “What else could we do?”
“I help only my friends.”
“We are your friends,” the Cub leader insisted. “At least we want to be. Sit down, Jack, and let’s talk this over.”
Mr. Hatfield brushed off a hollow log which had fallen near the fence, and made room for Jack. The other boys gathered around close enough so the Institute lad could not hope to make a break for freedom.
“Jack, can’t you realize that we’re trying to help, not make things hard for you,” Mr. Hatfield attempted to reason with him. “You must return to Mrs. Jones’ home.”
“I was going there anyhow,” the boy muttered, his gaze on the ground.