CHAPTER XXIV
CLEANING UP
The constable of Bellwood drew back a trifle at the warlike demonstrationof Dean Ritchie and his friends. He probably had heard of the treatment ofsome of his kind who had been mobbed, ducked and sent home ingloriouslywhen they had tried to interfere with the sports of the students at theschool.
"Hold on, fellows," said Frank quickly, moving his champions aside. "Thisman is only doing his duty."
"There's the president!" exclaimed Ned Foreman, and he ran forward to thefront of the academy, where Professor Elliott had just been driven up in acarriage.
"I will go with you," said Frank, ranging himself up by the side of theofficer. "I would like to speak to Mr. Elliott first, though."
"Certainly," acceded the constable willingly, awed by the crowd and pleasedwith the gentlemanly manner of his prisoner.
Professor Elliott stood awaiting the approaching crowd, staring in apuzzled way at them through his eye glasses. Frank walked straight up tohim.
"Professor Eliott," he said, "I have just been arrested by this officer, onthe complaint of Gill Mace, I am led to believe."
The academy president stared in astonishment at Frank, and then at Gill,who had kept up with the coterie.
"Yes, I had him arrested," proclaimed Gill.
"Indeed," spoke Mr. Elliott. "Upon what charge, may I ask?"
"He stole a diamond bracelet from my uncle's jewelry store at Tipton,"declared Gill.
"There is the bracelet in question, Professor Elliott," said Frank,promptly placing a little parcel done up in tissue paper in the hands ofthe professor.
"I told you he had it. Didn't I say so?" crowed and chuckled the triumphantGill.
"However, I didn't steal it," continued Frank. "There is a story I shouldlike to tell you, Professor Elliott. Its telling now may save some troublelater on."
"Yes--yes," nodded Mr. Elliott in a somewhat disturbed way. "Of coursethere is a mistake. Officer, please come with me to the library. I wish tolook into this affair."
"I would like to have Gill Mace and my friend, Ned Foreman, come with us,sir," suggested Frank.
"Certainly, Jordan. Charged with robbery! Dear me! Officer, this is apretty serious action on your part."
"I'm only doing my legal duty, sir," insisted the constable.
"You have a warrant for the arrest of our student, then?"
"No, sir, I haven't," acknowledged the officer, "but the sheriff said I hada right to act in the premises."
"How so?" demanded Mr. Elliott.
"This lad, Mace, came to us and declared that he had seen in the possessionof the Jordan boy a diamond bracelet stolen from his uncle at Tipton, thetown that both of them came from."
"Well?"
"He had telegraphed for his uncle to come on at once. He expects him on theeight o'clock train. The sheriff said that, in a way, the case being underthe jurisdiction of another State, we might hold the accused as a fugitivefrom justice, pending identification."
"Fugitive, nonsense! identification, fiddlesticks!" commented the oldprofessor testily. "Jordan isn't going to run away. As to hisidentification, he has turned the property in question over to me, and,knowing him as I do, I would stake a good deal that when he comes toexplain matters it will clear up the situation so far as he is concerned.You have no legal right to apprehend Jordan, officer, and we certainly willnot allow you to disgrace him through an arrest, except by due process oflaw."
"With every respect to you, sir," said the constable humbly, "what am I todo, then?"
"Go back to town, wait till this man Mace arrives, and bring him here toconsult with me."
Frank gave the professor a grateful look. He felt at that moment that Mr.Elliott was indeed what Bob Upton had so enthusiastically declared him tobe "a good old man."
"Now, then," continued Professor Elliott, waving the constable away as theyentered the library, "we will get at the bottom of this matter. This is thebracelet in question, is it, Jordan?" he inquired, indicating the littleparcel Frank had given him.
"I think it is, Mr. Elliott."
"How did you come by it?"
"If you please, Mr. Elliott," said Frank, "I would like to tell you mystory in private. It involves another person, and also some facts about hisrelatives, which he might not be disposed to have made public property."
"Very well," answered the professor, and he led the way to his privateoffice at the end of the library and closed its door.
Frank told his story from beginning to end, and he had an interested andsympathetic listener.
When he had concluded, the professor extended his hand, and Frank was proudto grasp it.
"Jordan," he said, "you are a noble fellow. I liked you from the first; Ilike you better than ever now. If every boy in the school came to me as youhave done he would find in me a true friend. I hope you will tell the boysso."
"I don't have to," declared Frank. "They all know you are a good old--Imean, their friend," stammered Frank, checking his impetuous utterance justin time, "but they are a little shy."
Professor Elliott returned to the library and Frank accompanied him.
"Mace," said the former, "you may have acted on your best convictions, butI am assured that you have made a great mistake."
"I don't see how," muttered Gill stubbornly. "There's the bracelet. He hadit, didn't he? So he stole it."
"That does not follow--except in your perverted opinion," observed theprofessor drily. "We will move no further in this matter until your unclearrives. Foreman, I wish to have a word with you."
"Yes, sir," bowed Ned politely.
"I will give you a note to my attorney in Bellwood. You will tell him allthat Jordan has told you, as to his experiences with the person who visitedus in your behalf the other day. My lawyer will ferret out this mysteryconcerning you, and I feel pretty sanguine you will discover something ofdecided interest and profit to you."
"Thank you, sir."
"None of you three need report for studies today, as I may desire to seeany or all of you later on quick notice."
The boys were dismissed. Gill Mace looked suspicious and mystified, Ned wasradiant, Frank felt that his patience and loyalty to his friends were aboutto score a grand result.
Just then the door opened, and a blustering and excited form burst into theroom.
It was Samuel Mace.
The Boys of Bellwood School; Or, Frank Jordan's Triumph Page 24