“You and Jim chased me,” he said to Hem Sylvester. “I didn’t want to stop for fear of missing the train. I suppose that did look sort of guilty.”
“It sure did,” agreed Hen.
“But you know what time the train left. You saw me jump in the box car,” went on Joe. “And you,” turning to the deacon, “know what time it was when you saw some one getting out of the window. Now could I have gotten from the house to the train in that difference of time?”
The deacon and the constable thought a moment. The deacon mentioned the time he had seen the robber escaping, and it was evident that Joe could not have been in two places at once.
“Well, I guess that practically clears you,” admitted Sylvester. “I don’t see as we have any use for this warrant, Deacon,” and he produced the paper.
“Save it,” said Joe with a smile. “Maybe you can change the names and use it on those two men. We’ll see if we can catch them. What kind of investment papers did they take from you?” he asked the deacon.
“Some like this,” and the deacon produced a bond. “It’s the only one they overlooked.”
“May I borrow it?” asked Joe.
The deacon let him take it, and then all four of them left the theatre, it not being necessary to take away any of the “props,” as another performance was to be given the next night.
“We’ll go to the hotel,” suggested Joe. “It’s just possible the men may be there. They haven’t anything to suspect unless they saw you,” he said to the deacon.