Part 17 (1/2)

”How do you know they were burglar tools?”

”Because I saw 'em!” cried Andy. ”He had 'em in a valise on his motor-cycle. He was standing at the corner, waiting for a chance to break into the bank, and when me and Sam Snedecker saw him, he pretended to be fixin' his machine. Then the bag of burglar tools fell off, the satchel came open, and I seen 'em! That's how I know.”

”And you're sure they were burglar tools?” asked the chief, for he depended on Andy to be his most important witness.

”Sure I am. I seen a picture of burglar tools once, and the ones Tom had was just like 'em. Long-handled wrenches, brace an' bits, an' all.

He tried to hide 'em, but me an' Sam was too quick for him. He wanted to lick me, too.”

”No doubt you deserved it,” murmured Mr. Swift. ”But how do you know my son was waiting for a chance to break into the bank?”

”'Cause, wasn't it robbed right after he was hangin' around here with the burglar tools?” inquired Andy, as if that was unanswerable.

”What were you hanging around here for?” Mr. Swift demanded quickly.

”Me? Oh, well, me an' Sam Snedecker was out takin' a walk. That's all.”

”You didn't want to rob the bank, did you?” went on the inventor, keenly.

”Of course not,” roared the bully, indignantly. ”I ain't got no burglar tools.”

Andy told more along the same line, but his testimony of having seen Tom near the bank, with a bag of odd tools could not be shaken. In fact it was true, as far as it went, but, of course, the tools were only those for the airs.h.i.+p; the same ones Mr. Sharp had sent the lad after.

Sam Snedecker was called in after Andy, and told substantially the same story.

Mr. Swift could not understand it, for he knew nothing of Tom being sent for the tools, and had not heard any talk at home of the bag of implements ordered by the balloonist. Still, of course, he knew Tom had nothing to do with the robbery, and he knew his son had been at home all the night previous. Still this was rather negative evidence. But the inventor had one question yet to ask.

”You say you also suspect Mr. Damon of complicity in this affair?” he went on, to the chief of police.

”We sure do,” replied Mr. Simonson.

”Then can you explain?” proceeded the inventor, ”how it is that Mr.

Damon has on deposit in this bank a large sum. Would he rob the bank where his own funds were?”

”We are prepared for that,” declared the president. ”It is true that Mr. Damon has about ten thousand dollars in our bank, but we believe he deposited it only as a blind, so as to cover up his tracks. It is a deep-laid scheme, and escaping in the airs.h.i.+p is part of it. I am sorry, Mr. Swift, that I have to believe your son and his accomplice guilty, but I am obliged to. Chief, you had better send out a general alarm. The airs.h.i.+p ought to be easy to trace.”

”I'll telegraph at once,” said the official.

”And you believe my son guilty, solely on the testimony of these two boys, who, as is well known, are his enemies?” asked Mr. Swift.

”The clue they gave us is certainly most important,” said the president. ”Andy came to us and told what he had seen, as soon as it became known that the bank had been robbed.”

”And I'm going to get the reward for giving information of the robbers, too!” cried the bully.

”I'm going to have my share!” insisted Sam.

”Ah, then there is a reward offered?” inquired Mr. Swift.

”Five thousand dollars,” answered Mr. Pendergast. ”The directors, all of whom are present save Mr. Foger, Andy's father, met early this morning, and decided to offer that sum.”

”And I'm going to get it,” announced the red-haired lad again.