"Yes," replied Mr. Grayson. "But he was very cautious in his testimony. He said he remembered seeing Frank hovering about the place where the coat was hanging, but thought nothing of it at the time. All he really knew, he admitted, was that the money was in the envelope when he hung the coat up and wasn't there when he put it on again. Sandy impressed me all through as knowing more about the matter than he cared to tell." "You bet he does!" declared Garry. "He's yellow right down to the ground. But what did Frank have to say to all this?" "Denied the theft utterly," replied Mr. Grayson. "Said he knew nothing at all about it. He admitted that he was in the poolroom that night. Also admitted that Sandy was in his shirt sleeves, so that his coat must have been hanging somewhere. But he denied emphatically that he had taken the money." "Well, why, then, didn't the judge let him go?" asked Mrs. Grayson. "His testimony ought to be as good as that of those worthless fellows." "You forget, my dear, that a man charged with crime will almost always deny it," replied her husband. "Against the direct testimony of two men, however worthless, who swore they saw him take the money, and the indirect testimony of still another witness who remembered that he had acted suspiciously, the judge had no recourse but to hold Frank. And that's what he did. Mr. Sherwood furnished bail, and the boy was released from custody. His trial comes up a few weeks from now." There was a sad silence in the Grayson living room. All were thinking of the terrible heartache that must be the lot of the Sherwood family. Garry especially was thinking of poor Bill. It was Garry who broke the silence. "What did you think of it, Dad?" asked Garry. "You've seen a lot of accused people on the witness stand. Did Frank act to you as if he were guilty or innocent?" Mr. Grayson for once relaxed his usual lawyer's caution. "Innocent," he stated emphatically. "His face, his actions, his talk, all impressed me that way. I think he's the victim of a conspiracy. I'm going to try to prove it, too, for Mr. Sherwood has put the case in my hands." "Hooray!" shouted Garry, who had unbounded faith in his father's ability. "Then you'll get Frank off sure!" "I hope to," replied Mr. Grayson, smiling at his son's enthusiasm. "But one never knows what a jury may do," he added soberly. "I'll do my best to establish Frank's innocence, and I hope enough will develop in the course of the trial to put those poolroom rats out of business." CHAPTER XX HARD LUCK Bill Sherwood turned up the next morning, his face drawn and pale, his steps lagging and dispirited. His chums gathered eagerly around him and gave him the warmest of welcomes. "Still willing to speak to me, eh?" he said, looking at them shamefacedly and with a wan attempt at a smile.