At that instant a shadow fell across my window, and looking up, we saw four men approaching the mill. They were Constable Pointer, President Webster of the Bayport Bank, and two strangers. “Constable Pointer!” I exclaimed, as the quartet filed in. “Ha!” cried Mr. Norton, and I saw him turn pale. “What do you men want here?” “Reuben, we want you,” said the constable, as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Want me!” I cried, starting back. “Exactly.” “About that boat matter?” I asked. “No, not about any boat matter,” put in President Webster. “Constable, I demand that the boy be searched.” “What for?” I asked, and I saw that Mr. Norton was equally curious to know. There was no reply to this, and I backed away. “Stop, Rube,” said Pointer. “Remember you are now under arrest.” “Arrest!” I gasped. “Exactly, young man,” added Mr. Webster. “Search him at once.” I was too much taken aback to protest, and the constable quickly turned my pockets inside out. “Nothing much of value,” said Pointer. “Are you sure?” questioned the president of the bank eagerly. The constable made another search, and finally brought to light the stone I had picked up on the floor. “Here is one of ’em!” he cried. “By George, Rube, to tell the honest truth, I didn’t think it of you,” he added in a lower tone. “Didn’t think what of me?” “That you would turn thief.” “I haven’t done so.” “Oh, come, it won’t do to deny this.” “You say my nephew has turned thief?” put in Mr. Norton, pressing forward. “Are you this boy’s uncle?” asked President Webster. “Yes; and his guardian too.” “It’s a pity you wouldn’t guard him better,” sneered the big man from Bayport. “What has he stolen?” asked my guardian, with apparent deep concern. “He’s helped to steal a bag of diamonds from one of the safes in the Bayport Bank,” returned Constable Pointer. “Is this one of the stones, Mr. Ditson?” he continued, turning to one of the strangers. “I think it is,” was the reply, after an examination. “What do you think, Mr. Camp?” he added to the other stranger. “I should say it was,” was the quick reply. “It ought to be plain enough that such a boy would never have a diamond of his own like this.” “I didn’t steal that diamond!” I burst out. “Perhaps you will state where you did get it?” remarked Mr. Webster sarcastically. “I found it here on the floor.” There was a general sniff at this. “Quite likely!” said Mr. Ditson. “Diamonds are not lying around so loosely as all that. I am pretty sure, officer, you have got one of the thieves. The question is, has he any more of the stones?” “We’ll have to search around and see,” said Pointer. “Did you know your nephew was out last night?” asked Mr. Webster of Mr. Norton sharply. “Yes, he was,” replied my guardian. “How long?” “I don’t know when he came in,” was the answer. “But, oh, sir, I cannot believe that he is a thief!” And Mr. Norton’s voice trembled with apparent emotion.