CHAPTER XXX
THE LETTER
Andy could scarcely understand it. Surely, he thought, there must besome mistake. He was glad there was not a crowd of students about towitness the humiliation of Link--a humiliation none the less acute ifthe charge was groundless.
"Wait a minute--hold on!" exclaimed Andy, sharply, and there wassomething in his voice that caused the detective to pause.
"Well, what is it?" the officer growled. "I haven't any time to waste."
"Do you really want him on a robbery charge?" asked Andy.
"I do--if his name is Link Bardon," was the cool answer. "I guess hewon't attempt to deny it. I've been on his trail for some time."
"That's my name, sure enough--I have no reason to deny it," said Link,who had turned pale. His eyes had traces of tears in them. After all, hewas not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unusedto the rough ways of the world.
"I thought I was right," the detective went on. "I've been watching foryou. Now the question is--are you coming along quietly, or shall I haveany trouble?"
"I won't give you any trouble--certainly not," protested Link. "But thisis 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. Whatare 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 justsupposed 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 getbail. 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 searchingyour 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 asmall book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones takenfrom 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 sohigh and mighty."
"If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!" declaredLink. "I certainly never did."
"Well, I won't say that couldn't happen," spoke the officer coolly, "butif 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 withme, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottomof a closet."
"I never put it there!" protested Link.
"You can tell that to the judge," went on the officer. "How about allthe 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 sound peculiar.
"It was sent to me," he answered.
"Who sent it?"
"I don't know. It came in the mail without a word of explanation."
The detective laughed.
"I thought you'd have some such yarn as that," he said. "They all do. Iguess you'll have to come with me. I'm sorry," he went on in a moregentle tone. "I'm only doing my duty. I've been working on thequadrangle case for some time, and I think I've landed my man. But itisn't as much fun as you might think. I'll only say that I believe Ihave the goods on you, and I'll warn you that anything you say now maybe used against you. So you'd better keep still. Come along."
"Must I go?" asked Link again of Andy.
"I'm afraid so. But I'll have you out on bail as soon as I can. Don'tworry, Link."
Andy learned from the detective before what judge Link would bearraigned and then, as the young farmer lad was led away in disgrace,Andy started back to his room.
"I've got to get Dunk to help me in this," he reasoned. "To go on bailyou have to own property, or else put up the cash, and I can't do that.Maybe Dunk can suggest a way."
Andy was glad it was so dark that no one could see Link being taken awayby the officer.
"How did that book get in Link's room?" mused Andy. "That sure will tellagainst him. But I know he didn't steal it. Some other janitor or helperwho could get into Chittenden may have taken it, and then got afraid anddumped it in Link's closet. A lot of college employees live on Crownstreet. I must get Link a lawyer and tell him that."
Andy found Dunk in the room, and excitedly broke the news to him.
"Whew! You don't say so!" cried Dunk. "Your friend Link arrested! Whatdo you know about that? And the book in his room!"
"Somebody else put it there," suggested Andy.
"Possibly. But that money-in-a-letter story sounds sort of fishy."
"That _is_ a weak point," Andy admitted. "But we'll have to considerall that later. The question is: How can we get Link out on bail? Got anymoney?"
Dunk pulled out his pocketbook and made a hurried survey.
"About thirty plunks," he said.
"I've got twenty-five," said Andy. "Link has nearly a hundred himself."
"That won't be enough," said Dunk. "This is a grand larceny charge andthe bail will be five hundred dollars anyhow. Now I'll tell you thebest thing to do."
"What?"
"Hire a good lawyer. We've got money enough, with what Link has, to paya good retaining fee. Let the lawyer worry about the bail. Those fellowsalways have ways of getting it."
"I believe you're right," agreed Andy. "We can put up fifty dollars fora retainer to the lawyer."
"I'll telegraph for more from home to-night," said Dunk. "Andy, we'llsee this thing through."
"It's mighty good of you, Dunk."
"Nonsense! Why shouldn't I help out your friend?"
"Do you think he's guilty?"
"I wouldn't want to say. Certainly I hope he isn't; but I'd like to getmy watch back."
"Well, let's go get a lawyer," suggested Andy.
A sporty senior, whom Dunk knew, and who had more than once been inlittle troubles that required the services of a legal man, gave them theaddress of a good one. They were fortunate in finding him in his office,though it was rather late, and he agreed to take the case, and said hethought bail could be had.
Andy and Dunk made a hasty supper and then, letting their studies go,hurried to the police court, where, occasionally, night sessions wereheld.
Link was brought out before the judge, having first had a conferencewith the lawyer Dunk and Andy had engaged. The charge was formally made.
"We plead not guilty," answered the lawyer, "and I ask that my client beadmitted to bail."
"Hum!" mused the judge. "The specific charge only mentions one book, ofthe value of two hundred dollars, but I understand there are othercharges to follow. I will fix bail at one thousand dollars, the prisonerto stand committed until a bond is signed."
Andy and Dunk gasped at the mention of a thousand dollars, but thelawyer only smiled quietly.
"I have a bondsman here, your Honor," he said.
A man, looking like an Italian, came forward, but he proved to have thenecessary property, and signed the bond. Then Link was allowed to go,being held, however, to answer to a higher court for the charge againsthim.
"Now if you'll come to my office," suggested the lawyer, "we'll plan outthis case."
"Oh, I can't thank you two enough!" gasped Link, when he was free of thepolice station. "It was awful back there in the cell."
"Forget it," advised Dunk, with a laugh. "You'll never go back thereagain."
The consultation with the lawyer took some time
, and when it was overLink started for his room. He was cheered by the prospect that the caseagainst him was very slight.
"Unless they get other evidence," specified the lawyer.
"They can't!" cried Link, proudly.
Andy and Dunk went back to their room, to do some necessary studying. Ontheir way they stopped in the Yale branch postoffice. There was a letterfrom home for Andy, and when he had read it he uttered such anexclamation that Dunk asked:
"Any bad news?"
"Yes, but not for me," replied Andy. "This is from my mother. She writesthat Mr. Gaffington--that's Mortimer's father--has failed in businessand lost all his money. This occurred some time ago, but the family hasbeen keeping it quiet. The Gaffingtons aren't rich at all, and Mortimerwill probably have to leave Yale."
"Too bad," said Dunk, and then he started off, leaving Andy to read theletter again.
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