Thomas Buckman tried to make other excuses, but it did not avail him, and at last, with very bad grace, he told his story.
Concerning the particulars of the broken machine nothing need be said. In addition to this, a new polishing machine had that morning been found covered with liquid glue; Felter's workbench was also smeared full of the stuff. Suspicion had pointed to Franklin as the guilty party, and a search had revealed the half-empty bottle in his workbench drawer. It was remembered by the doorkeeper that Franklin had been in the shop long before any of the other workmen.
"And now, what have you to say?" asked Belden Brice, turning to the young electrician. Franklin first told of the stealing of the knife and what Harry Leclair knew of it.
"You may not believe the boy," he said to the superintendent, "yet he tells the truth."
Then he went on to tell of the midnight visit Felter and Nolan had paid to the factory, and of the bottle they had mentioned. Thomas Buckman's lip curled in contempt.
"You mustn't expect me to believe that Bell," he said. "It is entirely too preposterous."
"It is a strange story, yet I believe it," was Belden Brice's comment. "You made a mistake, Franklin, when you did not summon assistance and have those two young fellows arrested."
