He had hardly spoken, when Hal strode over with such a determined air that Ferris was forced to beat a retreat until he backed up against a side table.

"You know you are saying what isn't so," said Hal, in a low voice. "And I want you to take it back."

"I--I am telling the truth," stammered Ferris.

"It is false. It is more likely that you entered Mr. Saunders' room yourself."

"When did you see Carson enter my room?" put in the dry-goods clerk.

"Just as I was getting ready to come down."

"Why didn't you speak of it before?" asked Mrs. Ricket.

"I thought he had gone in to see Tom."

"There is not a word of truth in what he says, and he knows it," said Hal, calmly. "It is merely a scheme to get me into trouble because he does not like me."

"No scheme about it," bl.u.s.tered Ferris. "If I were you I'd search his room."

"If the stolen things are there, Ferris put them there," added Hal, quickly.

"Mean to say I'm a thief?" roared Ferris, turning red in the face.

"I do."

"Take care, or I'll give you a sound thrashing."

"Similar to the one you gave me the other day, I presume," replied Hal.

"I am ready for you at any time."

"We don't want any fighting in the house," cried Mrs. Ricket. "This affair is bad enough without making it worse. Mr. Carson, do you object to me and Mr. Saunders going up to your room?"

"Not at all. Come on."

Hal led the way, followed by the others. d.i.c.k Ferris smiled darkly to himself as he came on behind.

"He'll find out he can't insult me for nothing," he muttered to himself.

The room reached, Hal threw open the door, and allowed Mrs. Ricket to pa.s.s him.

"You had better make the search," he said. "That will be fair all around."

"I will. Oh, what a trouble all this is." And crying softly to herself, the landlady began her investigation.

Nothing was found in the closet nor in the drawer of the table. Then Hal's meager possessions were hauled over, and still nothing came to light.

"Look in the bureau drawer," suggested Saunders, anxiously.

Mrs. Ricket did so. From the rear the woman brought forth a large flat box, rolled up in a newspaper.

The newspaper was cast aside, and the box opened. Out came a pair of cuff-b.u.t.tons, a gold watch-chain, a flat pocket-book, two inkstands, and several boxes of pens.

The instant Hal saw the articles he understood the trick that had been practiced upon him.

Saunders gave a cry.

"Those are mine! Let me see if the money is safe." He opened the pocket-book. "Gone, every dollar of it!"

He turned upon Hal.

"Give me that fourteen dollars, or I will have you locked up at once!"

"Mr. Saunders, I never took these things," replied Hal, as calmly as he could.

"Yes, but----" the dry-goods clerk was so angry he could hardly speak.

"I know it looks black against me, but perhaps I can clear myself," went on the youth.

"Yes, you can," sneered Ferris. "Look here," he pointed to the inkstands and the pens. "Aunt Amanda, do you know who those things belong to?"

"Who?"

"They belong to Sumner, Allen & Co.," replied Ferris, triumphantly.

"You are sure?" asked Saunders.

"I am, unless Carson will stick out for it that the firm gave them to him," returned Ferris.

"Is that so?" questioned Mrs. Ricket.

"They were not given to me," replied Hal, promptly. "But I know who brought them into the house."

"Who?"

"Your nephew, Mrs. Ricket. I am sorry for you, but I am telling the truth."

"d.i.c.k a thief!"

"See here, do you know what you are saying?" bl.u.s.tered Ferris, taken aback by this statement.

"I do."

"I won't have you talking to me in this fashion."

"Then you had better own up to what you have done," replied Hal, calmly.

"How could I get the things?" demanded Ferris. "The firm knows they were there after I left."