“What is it?” asked Andrew Sage, a sudden shadow of apprehension clouding his face. “Uncle Ed Tower just told me that another one of the robbers has been caught.”
“Father,” said Fred, standing with his back toward the house, “what I am going to tell you will be a shock, and it’s possible that mother is watching us from the window. You must not let her see that you’re affected.”
The man’s face grew suddenly ashen.
“Clarence?” he muttered hoarsely.
“Do brace up,” urged Fred. “They came here to search for one of the robbers. They had been told that he was hiding in our stable.”
“And they found Clarence?”
“Yes. He gave himself up when he realized that it was useless to try to hide.”
“But—but he had—nothing to do with the attempted robbery. They had no right to touch him for that. Didn’t he tell them?”
“What good would that have done, father? He was found concealed in our stable, and he’s a stranger in this town. You can see that no explanation he could possibly make would keep them from locking him up.”
“But they have no right to touch him!” cried Mr. Sage, with a sudden vehement gesture.