Sam squared his shoulders. “By going down to the station and telling the officers what I’ve told you—everything. Then they’ll have to let Peter Groche go. And they—they can keep me.”
“That would be a simple method; but there may be a better one—not so direct, but probably more effective.”
Sam stared at his father. “More effective?” he repeated.
“Yes. The officers might be slow to act. You have to remember that they think the case against Groche is pretty strong.”
“But they’d have to believe me,” Sam urged.
“Not so fast, son! Don’t forget that there is a good deal of circumstantial evidence against Groche. Your story would certainly create a doubt—and a strong doubt—in his favor; but with his reputation for evil doing, they would be reluctant to let him go and risk making a mistake. No; there is a surer way to achieve the result.”
“And that is——?”
“To go straight to Major Bates and give him your version.”
“Oh!” gasped Sam, and blanched at thought of confronting the redoubtable Major, by long odds the most terrifying, overbearing and truculent person in all Plainville. “Oh, I—I’d rather not, Father! They can put me in a cell if they want to, but——”
Mr. Parker rose to his feet. “We’ll go to the Major—at once!” he said, with decision.