CHAPTER X
AMOS DECIDES
Apparently Elmer was ready to take the others into his confidence, for he immediately began to explain what he had done.
“You remember that I said I’d put the knife back about where I found it,” he told them; “which was close to that hole in the wall used for air as a sort of window, alongside the chimney.”
“Yes, I saw that you had stuck its pointed blade in the log; noticed that between yawns when I was getting ready to turn in,” admitted Perk.
“Well, it was gone this morning,” asserted the other, triumphantly.
“Yes,” objected Wee Willie instantly—they always said the tall chum would make a good lawyer, he was so ready with his objections—“but how do you know the tramp came back again and took it?”
“Who else would?” asked the puzzled Perk.
“Why, perhaps Amos got to thinking about it, not being able to sleep, and for some good reason chose to lay hold of the old thing,” explained Wee Willie blandly.
“Listen,” continued Elmer, with that quiet smile of his which the others knew so well spoke of assurance, “I considered that point myself, and fortunately there was a way open to prove my case. I’d smoothed out most of those tracks around the cabin, but when I came out to take a look, there they were again, showing the hobo had once more shown up.”
“Great work!” grunted the skeptical Wee Willie, now convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt.