"Are you sure you did not put it there yourself?" asked the man
in an insinuating manner, which Jack resented.

"Dr. Wise," he said, flushing, "will you tell this person what
I told you when I gave you the watch this morning? I am afraid
I cannot keep my temper if I talk with him any longer."

"And I know I shall not!" sputtered Percival.

"The young gentleman did gallant work at the fire last night,
and came home very much fatigued," said the doctor. "While
undressing with his companion who is here, this watch dropped from
his trousers pocket. Percival will doubtless tell you the same.
This is what he told me when he handed me the watch this morning.
If you suspect him you do him an act of the rankest injustice."

"This watch has been stolen," said the other. "The thief was
traced to Riverton. He went to the fire last night with a number
of suspicious characters who generally congregate at such places
in the hope of gain. The watch was doubtless passed from one
person to another, for it was not in the possession of the suspected
man who denies all knowledge of it. Now I want to know how this
boy got hold of it."

"He does not know any more than you do, and I have told you just
what he told me, and which I believe."

"It sounds very queer," said the detective. "I shall have to hold
him for the Grand---"

"I beg your pardon, you will do nothing of the sort, in fact, you
cannot," said the doctor.

"Just let the Hilltoppers hear him, and see what they will have to
say about it!" sputtered Percival under his breath.

CHAPTER VIII

WHAT JACK AND DICK OVERHEARD

"I beg your pardon, Mr.---, I did not catch your name," continued
Dr. Wise, "but you have no authority in this case. You are not a
civil magistrate, not even a police court judge, and you cannot
hold this boy for any jury, grand or little. You can make a charge
against him, it is true, and then if the local magistrate considers
the evidence good he will be held for the Grand Jury. You are
doubtless unaware, being a stranger to the section, that I am a
magistrate myself, although seldom called upon to adjudge cases."

"I was not aware of it, sir," said the other, a little shamefaced.
"I may have been hasty, but my association with suspicious
characters-----"

"Has made him one himself," muttered Percival, whereat Jack could
not help smiling.

"Has made me suspect persons unjustly, perhaps," the detective
went on. "Still you must