“You certainly didn’t think, period,” Sara replied, though in a less severe tone. “You told police that the motorboat used in the dynamiting was one of our boats.”
“Well, it looked like it to me. Perhaps I was mistaken.”
“You weren’t mistaken. The boat definitely was one of ours. It was stolen from here about a month ago.”
Penny drew a deep breath. “Then in that case, I don’t see why suspicion should fall upon your brother.”
“Didn’t you tell police that a young man corresponding to his description was handling the boat?”
“Indeed I didn’t.”
“Then it must have been the watchman who provided the description,” Sara corrected. “At any rate, police identified the boat as ours, and arrested Burt. They have him at the station now.”
“It never occurred to me that anyone would suspect your brother,” Penny said soberly. “Why, everyone along the river knows him well. It should be easy for him to prove his innocence.”
“True, it should be,” Sara replied bitterly. “The arrest angered Burt, and he made matters worse by refusing to answer questions the police asked him.”
“Oh, that was a mistake.”