“Yes. Mudgett and Tim Bunker were sharp enough to put Luke in a tight box before they took him into their confidence.”
“How?”
“They had him deliver the decoy note to Adam Fairclough. It was a mean trick, for it implicates Luke in the job, as they intended it should. That puts him completely in their power, don’t you see?”
“I wouldn’t be in his shoes for a mint,” said Joe as they turned into the road leading to Jayville. “But it serves him right for stealing that money from his father, and then when it come out letting you shoulder all the blame. He wouldn’t have opened his mouth to clear you if you’d been arrested for the theft and put in the village lock-up,” he added indignantly.
“I guess you’re right,” admitted his chum.
“Of course I’m right. Didn’t he give you away to his father the moment he spied you hid down in the hold of the canal-boat?”
“He certainly did, and I think I could have thrashed him for it if I’d had the chance. I felt like doing it.”
“And my fists just tingled to get a rap at him, too,” blurted Joe.
“He’s in a pretty bad hole now, all right. If we can prevent this burglary to-night, it is possible we can save him from some of the consequences of his foolishness.”
“I shouldn’t think you’d care to waste much consideration on a fellow who for years treated you as mean as Luke has done,” said Joe, in some surprise.