urned pale. His eyes had traces of tears in them. After all, he
was not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unused
to the rough ways of the world.

"I thought I was right," the detective went on. "I've been watching for
you. Now the question is--are you coming along quietly, or shall I have
any trouble?"

"I won't give you any trouble--certainly not," protested Link. "But this
is all a mistake! I haven't taken a thing! You know I wouldn't steal,
don't you, Mr. Blair?"

"I certainly believe it, Link, and I'll do all I can to help you. What
are you going to do with him?" he asked the detective.

"Lock him up--what do you suppose?"

"But can't he get out on bail?"

"Oh, it could be arranged. I have nothing to do with that. I'm just
supposed to get him--and I've got him!"

"But I--I haven't done anything!" insisted Link.

"That's what they all say," sneered the detective. "Come along!"

"Do--do I have to go with him?" asked Link, turning to Andy in appeal.

"I'm afraid so," was the answer. "But I'll go with you and try to get
bail. Don't worry, Link. It's all a mistake. You'll soon be free."

"Don't be too sure of that," warned the officer. "I've been searching
your room, young man, and I guess you know what I found there."

"You certainly found in my room only the things that belonged to me!"
exclaimed Link, indignantly.

"Did I? What do you call this?" and the detective took from his pocket a
small book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones taken
from Chittenden Hall.

"You--you found that in my room?" cried Link, aghast.

"I sure did. In your room on Crown street. Now maybe you won't be so
high and mighty."

"If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!" declared
Link. "I certainly never did."

"Well, I won't say that couldn't happen," spoke the officer coolly, "but
if you think I planted it there to frame up some evidence against you,
you've got another guess coming. I took your landlady into the room with
me, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottom
of a closet."

"I never put it there!" protested Link.

"You can tell that to the judge," went on the officer. "How about all
the money you've been sporting around to-day, too?"

Link started. Andy, too, saw how dangerous this evidence might be.

"I've had some money--certainly," admitted Link.

"Where'd you get it?"

Link hesitated. He realized that the story would so