"What thief?" asked Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Dunlee.
"Why, the thief! The one we're looking for! The one that stole the watch!"
"Do you really mean it?" asked the ladies again. "Did he bring it back?"
"Come and see," said Uncle James, leading the way upstairs.
"Of course it's Joe Rolfe," thought Kyzie. "I suppose he was frightened by what I said to Henry Small."
"Is the thief in your room, Uncle James?" said Jimmy. "Why didn't you put him in jail?"
"Ah, Jimmum, do you think all thieves ought to go to jail? I once knew a little boy who stole a chimney right off a house; yet I never heard a word said about putting him in jail!
"But here we are at the chamber door. Stand behind me, all of you, in single file."