"But I beg you'll forgive me, Mr. Somers," spoke up the girl, anxiously.
"I honestly believed it was a joke that I was helping in. As soon as
Mr. Ward found me, I told him the whole truth about the matter."
"You certainly did, Miss Pitney," confirmed the chief.
"Why, I haven't anything to forgive," laughed Eph. "It was a joke, the way it turned out."
Chief Ward escorted Miss Pitney from the room, then returned to explain:
"That's a wholly good girl, but her fancy was too easily won by the fellow, 'Tom.' She knows better, now, and will have to know a whole lot more about the next man she allows to capture her affections. Now, I have another pair to show you. They're in cells. Come downstairs, please."
Through a corridor underneath the chief led his visitors, halting, at last, before a barred door of iron.
"Look through, and see who it is," smiled the police chief.
"Why, that's Walter C. Hodges, who sent us off on a pleasure trip in that doctored automobile!" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes; you're right," sighed the prisoner. "I've been cornered, and
I've admitted it."
"But that fellow's daughter?" asked Jack, as the chief led them away.