“I don’t think he did. I think there is some mistake about Mr. Markham’s account, but that is all. He was a gentleman, if I am any judge.” “We shall see. In the meantime I must place you under arrest.” “Will you let me know as soon as these two men are found?” “Yes.” At this moment constable Pointer came in, and the squire told him to take me to the jailer, to be put in a cell apart from Mr. Norton. Feeling pretty downhearted, I followed Pointer from the office to the rooms below. Here Mr. Harris, the jailer, met us, and I was given over into his charge. “We’ll make you as comfortable as possible,” said the jailer kindly. “I know what it is to be falsely imprisoned, if that is your case. You shall have the best cell in the building, Rube.” “What have you done with Mr. Norton?” “Put him in a corner by himself. He raised such a fearful row.” A moment more and I was shown into a narrow cell, the door was closed and locked behind me, and I was a prisoner. CHAPTER XVI. A FRIEND IN NEED. I was a prisoner in the Bend Center jail. It was far from being a pleasant situation, and with a heavy heart I sank down into a seat and gave myself up to my bitter feelings. For the past few days misfortunes had been piling themselves upon me, and I could not help but wonder what the end would be, or when it would be reached. My prison was a cold, stony place, scarcely eight feet square, and lighted by one narrow window, heavily barred, and facing a high brick wall a few feet beyond. At first I entertained some wild hope of trying to escape. The iron bars at the window were loose in the sill, and I was sure that by using all the strength at my command I could remove at least two of them, and thus make a space wide enough to allow the passage of my body. I was on the point of putting this plan into execution when I paused and reflected that such a course would avail me nothing! I did not want to leave the district altogether, and to thus break jail would only be taken as an evidence that I was guilty of the crime charged against me. So I sat down again, resolved to take matters as calmly as I could. There seemed to be no other prisoners in the building outside of Mr. Norton and myself; and after Squire Slocum and the crowd had left all became as silent as a graveyard. I wondered what my guardian was doing and thinking. Certainly nothing good; for I was convinced beyond a doubt that Mr. Norton was a thorough rascal. Presently I heard a slight scraping sound far down the corridor. I hoped fervently that Pointer or some of the other officers would capture the two strangers,――Avery and Yates,――and recover the stolen diamonds. At noon Mr. Harris, the jailer, brought me my dinner. I asked him a number of questions, but he politely but firmly declined to answer them. “Can’t do it, prisoner,” he said. “It’s against the rules.” And I was left alone once more.