"Well, I rather guess it's my business—" began the other. But Doctor Emery held up a hand.
"Leave him to me, if you please, Mr. Mercer," he said quietly. "Porter, this gentleman tells me that he discovered a boy, presumably one of my boys, fishing at the bottom of his meadow at about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. The boy saw him coming and ran away, leaving this pole behind him. The boy wore—"
"Ask him what he wore," interrupted Farmer Mercer.
"Just what I have on now," answered Roy. "And this cap," he added, holding it forth.
"Yes, you had a cap all right," said the farmer. "But I don't suppose you happened to have on a red sweater, eh? A dark red one?"
"No, I didn't, sir," replied Roy.
"You have such a sweater, I understand, however," said the Doctor.
"Yes, sir, I have a crimson sweater."
"That's what it was, crimson," said the farmer.
"But I didn't wear it yesterday. I haven't had it on since camp."