--er--you don't mean that," he faltered. "You can't have me
arrested."

"We'll see about that, Sobber."

"I haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why did you run away from Putnam Hall?"

"I had a right to leave. Captain Putnam wasn't treating me fairly."

"You ran away on account of that snake affair--you can't deny it."

"Humph!"

"That snake nearly killed Nick Pell. He isn't over it yet,
altogether."

"Bah! It wasn't the snake made Nick sick. He wasn't feeling well some
days before the snake bit him."

"It was the snake and nothing else put him in bed," answered Tom
warmly. "And that is not all. You are in league with your uncle, who
robbed my uncle of those traction company bonds."

"I--er--I don't know anything about that matter," answered
Sobber, hastily.

"Well, I know all about it. You were with your uncle when he got away
from us, and when he dropped the pocketbook containing the bonds."

"Did you get the bonds back?" asked Sobber, with sudden interest. It
may be added here that Sid Merrick had gone back long after the chase
to look for the pocketbook, but, of course, had been unable to get any
trace of it.

"We did."

"My uncle didn't steal them. Your uncle put them in his hands to
sell," went on Tad Sobber, with sudden boldness. "It is all a cooked
up story about his running away with them. And it's a cooked up story
about his having anything to do with those freight thieves. My uncle
is an honest man."

"I know all about the freight affair, for I overheard him talking to
some of the other thieves," answered Tom. "Where is your uncle now?"

"Do you think I'd be fool enough to tell you?"

"Perhaps you might--if I had you locked up."

"My uncle is a good long way from New York."

"I heard you tell that man your uncle would be in the city to-morrow."

"I didn't say any such thing!" burst out Sobber, but his manner showed
that he was very much disturbed.

"You did say it. Where are you stopping?"

"Nowhere--I only got in a few hours ago."

"Did you come here to meet Cuffer?"

"What do you know about Cuffer?"

"I know your uncle hired him and a man named Shelley to visit our farm
and get some things belonging to my father."

"Why, you're crazy! My uncle hardly knows Cuffer--and I never heard
of a man named Shelley."

"I am not crazy, and you know I am speaking the truth," answered Tom,
calmly. "Now you tell me where your uncle is or I'll have you
arrested."

"You'll not arrest