Part 26 (1/2)
”Why, yes, it is,” returned Ralph, promptly. ”Where did you get it?” he went on, in surprise, for he had thought the blade safe in his own pocket.
”Jess where you dropped it a couple of hours ago,” returned Uriah d.i.c.ks, eagerly. ”In the post office.”
”The post office? I haven't been in the post office since yesterday.”
”What are you doing out so early in the morning?” asked the constable.
”My mother is sick, and I have been over to Dr. Foley's for medicine for her.”
”And you weren't near the post office?”
”Oh, yes, I was only a few hundred feet away when the explosion took place.”
”There, didn't I say I saw him in the crowd?” exclaimed Uriah, eagerly.
”What were you doing in the crowd?”
”I wanted to see what was up.”
”You didn't stay very long,” said the constable, dryly.
”I couldn't. Mother was waiting for me.”
”You are quite sure you weren't in the post office just before the explosion occurred?”
”Why, of course I wasn't in the place! What are you driving at?”
”We found the pocketknife in the building--found it not ten feet from the wrecked safe. It had been used, evidently, for ripping open some sealed packages.”
”My knife!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Ralph.
”Exactly, Ralph,” put in Bart Hayc.o.c.k. ”But don't think I believe you guilty, my boy,” he went on, feelingly.
”Guilty of what?”
”Robbin' the post office!” cried Uriah d.i.c.ks. ”He is guilty to my way of thinkin'!”
”Robbing the post office!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Ralph.
”That's it, Ralph,” said the constable, seriously. ”It has been discovered that there were two men and a boy, and they think you were the boy.”
”Me!” Ralph could hardly believe his ears. ”Oh, Rodman, you don't mean it?”
”He does mean it!” said Uriah, sharply. ”Wasn't your knife found there?”
”I must have dropped the knife in the office yesterday when I was hanging up Mr. Dunham's circulars.”
”Did you use the knife then?” asked Bart Hayc.o.c.k.