“Finding this dress here gave me a bad moment,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Frankly, it’s something of a shock.”
“Well, blame me! I always get accused of everything whether I did it or not!”
“No one has accused you of anything, Jack. We only want to get at the truth of the matter. I have a deep-seated feeling that you might help us, if only you would.”
Jack remained silent.
Mr. Hatfield examined the dress and then wrapped it into a tight roll.
“Jack, we’ll walk along with you to Mrs. Jones’ place,” he said. “I think this is the dress that disappeared from her shed. I want to find out for certain.”
“I didn’t take it,” Jack denied. “What would I want with a woman’s dress? If you go back and tell the widow, she’ll think I stole it! She’ll send me back to the Institute!”
“Not if you tell a straight story, Jack,” Mr. Hatfield reassured him. “Come along, boys. We’re wasting valuable time.”
Jack did not openly defy Mr. Hatfield or the Cubs, but he made it evident by glances he directed at them that he resented their interference.
As the group approached the old farmhouse, Mrs. Jones saw the boys from afar. She was waiting at the door when they came up.