“And neither I am!” I cried. “He was out as well as I was, and I found that stone right here on the floor early this morning.” “Too thin,” sneered Mr. Webster. “Hold him, Pointer. Have we a right to search the house?” “Yes, yes; search all you please,” put in Mr. Norton hastily. “If the dear boy has done wrong, let it be made right as quickly as possible!” At that moment Ford came in. He had seen the crowd of men, and he wanted to know what was up. “Can’t make me believe that Rube stole any diamonds!” he ejaculated, when he had heard the story. “I’d rather believe his uncle here was the guilty party.” He had hardly spoken before Mr. Norton had him by the throat. “You scamp!” he howled. “Call me a thief!” CHAPTER XV. SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. I was completely dumfounded by the accusations that were brought against me. The constable and the others were sure in their minds that I had stolen, or assisted at stealing, some diamonds from one of the safes in the Bayport Bank. How they had come to track me I did not know; but I realized that the fact of my having that diamond in my possession, would carry much weight against me. The story that I had found the stone upon the floor of the living-room of the mill was not believed, although it was the exact truth. Mr. Norton’s manner put a sudden suspicion into my mind. He had told a deliberate falsehood in saying that I had been away from the mill the previous night. He must certainly have come in while I was sleeping in the rocker, and seen me. He had spoken to me on the subject of obtaining money dishonestly. To my mind no fair and square man would have done so. Was Ford’s suspicion against him correct? I was half inclined to think that such was the fact. Perhaps some of my readers will think it odd that I did not arrive at this conclusion sooner. Let them remember that I was but a boy, and that the adventure with the sloop, coupled with the news of my father’s death and my guardian’s arrival, had completely upset me. Had my mind been more at ease I might have acted differently from the start. “Let go of me!” cried Ford sternly. And catching Mr. Norton by the arm he shoved him several feet away. “I won’t allow anybody to talk to me in this fashion,” went on my guardian. “The idea of insinuating that I know anything about this robbery!” “Where did the boy spend the night?” asked Pointer, as soon as he could get a chance to talk. “I don’t know. He didn’t come in till a little while ago,” returned Mr. Norton. “That isn’t so!” I exclaimed. “I was here from half-past twelve until breakfast-time.” “Where were you from seven o’clock yesterday until half past twelve?” questioned Mr. Webster sharply. “Here most of the time. I left about half-past eleven to go after a fellow who stole some things from the mill.” “Another thief?”