“Here! Let me go! What does this mean?” cried Joe’s foster-father.
At the sound of his voice the two constables released their holds and stepped back.
“Deacon Blackford!” they gasped.
“That’s who I am,” was the response. “But what does this mean?”
“We—we took you for a burglar,” explained Hen. “We chased one a while ago, and missed him, and we were suspicious when we saw you.”
“What are you doing out so late?” asked Tim.
“I came to report a robbery.”
“Where?” asked both officers eagerly.
“At my house. I’ve been robbed of some money and valuable papers. Some of my wife’s money was also taken.”
“What did I tell you!” wailed Hen Sylvester. “I knew that burglar who got away took something! If we had only caught him!”