"It was the snake and nothing else put him in bed," answered Tom, warmly. "And that is not all. You are in league with your uncle, who robbed my uncle of those traction bonds."
"I—er—I don't know anything about that matter," answered Sobber, hastily.
"Well, I know all about it. You were with your uncle when he got away from us, and he dropped the pocketbook containing the bonds."
"Did you get the bonds back?" asked Sobber, with sudden interest. It may be added here that Sid Merrick had gone back long after the chase to look for the pocketbook, but, of course, had been unable to get any trace of it.
"We did."
"My uncle didn't steal them. Your uncle put them in his hands to sell," went on Tad Sobber, with sudden boldness. "It is all a cooked-up story about his running away with them. And it's a cooked-up story about his having anything to do with those freight thieves. My uncle is an honest man."
"I know all about the freight affair, for I overheard him talking to some of the other thieves," answered Tom. "Where is your uncle now?"
"Do you think I'd be fool enough to tell you?"
"Perhaps you might—if I had you locked up."
