THE LETTER
Andy could scarcely understand it. Surely, he thought, there must be
some mistake. He was glad there was not a crowd of students about to
witness the humiliation of Link--a humiliation none the less acute if
the charge was groundless.
"Wait a minute--hold on!" exclaimed Andy, sharply, and there was
something 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 he
won'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, he
was not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unused
to the rough ways of the world.
"I thought I was right," the detective went on. "I've been watching for
you. Now the question is--are you coming along quietly, or shall I have
any trouble?"
"I won't give you any trouble--certainly not," protested Link. "But this
is 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. What
are 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 just
supposed 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 get
bail. 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 searching
your 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 a
small book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones taken
from 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 so
high and mighty."
"If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!" declared
Link. "I certainly never did."
"Well, I won't say that couldn't happen," spoke the officer coolly, "but
if 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 with
me, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottom
of a closet."
"I never put it there!" protested Link.
"You can tell that to the judge," went on the officer. "How about all
the 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. I
guess you'll have to come with me. I'm sorry," he went on in a more
gentle tone. "I'm only doing my duty. I've been working on the
quadrangle case for some time, and I think I've landed my man. But it
isn't as much fun as you might think. I'll only say that I believe I
have the goods on you, and I'll warn you that anything you say now may
be 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't
worry, Link."
Andy learned from the detective before what judge Link would be
arraigned 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 bail
you 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 away
by the officer.
"How did that book get in Link's room?" mused Andy. "That sure will tell
against him. But I know he didn't steal it. Some other janitor or helper
who could get into Chittenden may have taken it, and then got afraid and
dumped it in Link's closet. A lot of college employees live on Crown
street. 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! What
do 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 consider
all that later. The question is: How can we get Link out on bail? Got any
money?"
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 and
the bail will be five hundred dollars anyhow. Now I'll tell you the
best thing to do."
"What?"
"Hire a good lawyer. We've got money enough, with what Link has, to pay
a good retaining fee. Let the lawyer worry about the bail. Those fellows
always have ways of getting it."
"I believe you're right," agreed Andy. "We can put up fifty dollars for
a retainer to the lawyer."
"I'll telegraph for more from home to-night," said Dunk. "Andy, we'll
see 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 get
my watch back."
"Well, let's go get a lawyer," suggested Andy.
A sporty senior, whom Dunk knew, and who had more than once been in
little troubles that required the services of a legal man, gave them the
address 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 he
thought 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 were
held.
Link was brought out before the judge, having first had a conference
with 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 be
admitted to bail."
"Hum!" mused the judge. "The specific charge only mentions one book, of
the value of two hundred dollars, but I understand there are other
charges to follow. I will fix bail at one thousand dollars, the prisoner
to stand committed until a bond is signed."
Andy and Dunk gasped at the mention of a thousand dollars, but the
lawyer 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 the
necessary property, and signed the bond. Then Link was allowed to go,
being held, however, to answer to a higher court for the charge against
him.
"Now if you'll come to my office," suggested the lawyer, "we'll plan out
this case."
"Oh, I can't thank you two enough!" gasped Link, when he was free of the
police station. "It was awful back there in the cell."
"Forget it," advised Dunk, with a laugh. "You'll never go back there
again."
The consultation with the lawyer took some time, and when it was over
Link started for his room. He was cheered by the prospect that the case
against 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. On
their way they stopped in the Yale branch postoffice. There was a letter
from home for Andy, and when he had read it he uttered such an
exclamation that Dunk asked:
"Any bad news?"
"Yes, but not for me," replied Andy. "This is from my mother. She writes
that Mr. Gaffington--that's Mortimer's father--has failed in business
and lost all his money. This occurred some time ago, but the family has
been keeping it quiet. The Gaffingtons aren't rich at all, and Mortimer
will probably have to leave Yale."
"Too bad," said Dunk, and then he started off, leaving Andy to read the
letter again.