"I don't need to; all the proof must come from the other side, and they haven't any witnesses who can swear that I did the robbery." "I could prove it, if I choose to go against you," she said. "No, you couldn't," he replied. "You didn't see me; and, while your testimony would, perhaps, be circumstantial evidence, your oath would be no better than mine, as you have no one to swear to the same thing." "Oh! I have great credit up at the station," she said, in a boasting manner. "They recollect the finding of eighteen thousand dollars under the pillow of the young man who died here, and they have all confidence in me, for they know I might have easily stolen all he had. But I think it is best never to do anything wrong, and then there is no fear of getting into trouble." "That's all right, if you can do it," he replied; "but I must have a living, and if I can't get it one way, I will another." Just then some one knocked at the door, and presently Charlie Stokes, the policeman, walked in. They talked together a few minutes, and then Stokes said: "Step this way a moment, Mr. Ingham, I wish to speak to you alone." They walked to the head of the stairs, and Ingham then asked what he wished to talk about. "Well, there seems to be some kind of a misunderstanding at the police station," said Stokes, keeping his eyes on the ground, "and they have sent me to ask you to walk around to the office." "A misunderstanding about what?" asked Ingham. "What do you mean?" "Well, you know all about it," continued Stokes, in the same mysterious way. "I beg your pardon; I don't know what you have reference to; please explain." "Oh! you know well enough. You are wanted on account of that man you robbed last Saturday night." "I did not rob any man Saturday night, and I am surprised that you should make such a charge against me, knowing me as well as you do," said Ingham, in an injured tone. "I have nothing to do with it," replied Stokes. "I am simply obeying the captain's order, and I have no personal feeling against you whatever; but I have been sent to take you down to the station, and I must obey orders." "Then you arrest me?" inquired Ingham. "Well, you must go to the station with me to see the captain." "Not unless you arrest me," replied Ingham. "I want to know whether I am to consider myself under arrest." "Yes, you can consider yourself arrested, if you want to," replied Stokes, who did not seem to like to take the responsibility of making the arrest under the circumstances. "I don't want to, and I shan't, unless you say so," persisted Ingham. "Well, then, I _do_ say so, and we will go now. We can walk along together like two friends, however, and no one need know that you are my prisoner." "I don't care who knows it," said Ingham; "but I think there is something strange in the way of arresting me."