“And a thief is exactly what he is!” Penny retorted. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he’s the one who stole Ben’s watch!”
“Then the thing for us to do is report him to the police. We’ll get nowhere talking to him ourselves.”
“We’ll stop in town—I think the place is called Newhall—and notify the sheriff,” Penny decided. “I certainly shall ask for the man’s arrest.”
Returning to the car, she turned it around, and they drove toward the town, less than a half mile away. Soon they approached Webb who was walking at the side of the pavement. Deliberately, he ignored them as they passed.
At Newhall, the girls found the sheriff, and rather excitedly, poured out their story. Although the official took a few notes, he seemed somewhat bored by it all.
“You don’t know the last name of the man,” he recited. “You think he may be employed by Professor Bettenridge, but you are not sure. You believe he may be a thief, but you are not positive of that either.”
“One thing I am sure of!” Penny exclaimed. “He pushed me into a ditch. So at least he’s guilty of that!”
“Are you willing to sign charges and appear against the man?”
“You mean I would have to come back here later on?”
“Certainly.”