Part 23 (1/2)
”Ah, that's for the police to find out.”
Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought the Whistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The old fellow, who was a first-cla.s.s man at repairing boats of all kinds, promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day.
”Did you hear the news?” he asked, after their business talk was at an end.
”What news?” asked Jerry.
”About the hotel being robbed.”
”Robbed!”
”Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of jewelry and four hundred dollars in cash.”
”By George! dat am a loss!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Blumpo.
”The jewelry is said to be worth nearly one thousand dollars.”
”Have they any idea who the thieves were?”
”No, they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, with holes cut in 'em for to see. Some thinks as how they got away in one o' the boats lying up sh.o.r.e.”
”How did they do the job?” questioned Jerry, with much interest.
”I didn't hear any of the particklers, boys.”
”Come on up to the hotel and find out,” said Harry. ”We haven't got to hurry home this evening.”
Side by side Harry and the young oarsman walked to the Rockpoint Hotel, a large place, now filled to overflowing with Summer boarders.
They found every one around the resort talking over the case. Presently Harry heard somebody say that the stolen money and box of jewels had been placed by the robbers into a large red valise belonging to the proprietor of the hotel. At once he called Jerry aside.
”I know who committed this robbery,” he said.
”Who?”
”Si Peters and Wash Crosby.”
CHAPTER XIX.
THE RED VALISE.
Of course Jerry was astonished at his chum's declaration.
”How do you know this?”
”They had that red valise. I saw it.”
”Let us make a few more inquiries before we say anything,” replied Jerry, slowly. ”It's pretty bad to accuse anybody of such a crime as this.”