“No; nor do I mean to be the fool of any man.”
“I see now.”
“What do you see?”
“I know why you will not let me know where your prisoner is concealed.”
“You make a mistake. I withhold the place of his concealment as a matter of precaution only.”
Ike overheard every word that was spoken. Indeed he thought he had overheard enough. He did not think it was worth while to take any more chances at that time, and he made his way out of the house and returned to where the detective lay on the shed-roof. The two walked off in the woods and Ike said:
“I had this thing all down correct. My third ball was the true one.”
Ike related all that he had overheard—related it all word for word, and when he had concluded the detective said:
“Well, lad, you have done a marvelous bit of detective work. I can hardly realize that it is not all a romance, and I am an old hand at the business.”
“What shall we do?”