Part 24 (2/2)
returned the constable
”Forty-five dollars' worth,” added Marvelling ”And all new stock, too! Oh, you thought you would get aith it hty smart-like, didn't you?” he sneered
”I haven't been near your store, and I know nothing about the theft,”
was Matt's steady reply
”Butyou run away from the store and come down here, didn't we, Jackson?”
”We certainly did,” returned the constable, with a grave shake of his head
”You sawback
”Exactly,” said Isaac Marvelling ”I heard you run out of the yard behind the store right after I had called in Jackson to tell him about the robbery We both saw you juht as well own up to what you have done,” added the constable
”It won't do you any good to deny it”
For theof what had occurred at the bridge just before the two men had reached it Could it be possible that the dark object which had left the place when he had arrived was the thief, rooted out of what he had considered a safe hiding-place?
”How near were you to
”We were near enough”
”Did you see my face?”
”Never mind if we did or not”
”No, I must say I didn't see your face,” said the constable, who, although a friend of the store-keeper, was yet disposed to be fair and square
”You probably saw a man, and he ran in this direction,” went on Matt
”We saw you,” said Marvelling doggedly ”March him back to the store, Jackson, and we'll make him confess where he has placed the stolen stuff He doesn't seeoods you had better listen to what I have to say,” returned Matt, trying to keep down his rising temper ”I did not enter your store, but perhaps I can put you on the track of the party who did”
”Oh, pshaw! that's all talk!” snarled Isaac Marvelling ”March him back, Jackson”
”It won't do any harm to listen to his story,” said the constable oods back ”
”Of course! of course!” responded the store-keeper eagerly ”I can't afford to lose forty-five dollars' worth of stuff at once”
”You say you didn't do the job, and that you think you can put us on the right track?”
”I think I can do so for you,” returned Matt