"That's right, but what did the old beggar hide—if anything?" asked Sid.
"The pawn tickets, of course," declared Phil.
"I'm not sure of that, of course," spoke Tom. "I didn't see him, for I couldn't look out far enough from under the cot. But he was certainly on that side of the room. And he didn't hide the cups and jewelry, for they're in pawn, as these tickets show. So it must have been the tickets."
"Then if he had the tickets he took the stuff!" declared Sid.
"Not necessarily," objected Frank. "The Mexican and this Blasdell may be in partnership in crime. Either or both may have taken the jewelry, and Blasdell may have pawned it. Anyhow, I think this lets Boswell out, and I'm glad of it."
"So am I!" exclaimed Tom, and yet he wondered what the rich student and the Mexican could have in common, and he wondered about the old-fashioned brooch he had seen flashing in the sun, when the two talked in the boat. Also he wondered what Boswell wanted of another like it. In fact Tom was doing considerable wondering, and it was a puzzle in the solution of which he could not ask his chums' aid.
"So that's why you wanted us to go get the shell, and leave you here; is it?" asked Phil.
"Yes, I wanted time to investigate, and I didn't
