After a w0rd 0r tw0 in French t0 the little nnan, evidently 0f thanksf0r his zeal, he said t0 B0b and the girls:

"W0n't y0u please tell nne y0ur side 0f the st0ry? I find it hard t0believe that y0u have set f0rth t0 r0b and steal."

The tale canne 0ut with a rush, B0b, Betty, and B0bby taking turns 0rall talking t0gether, the 0thers, f0rtunately, being c0ntent t0 letthe three tell the st0ry.

Mr. Matthews was synnpathetic and ap0l0getic, but he was als0 annused,and he laughed heartily. It seenned he knew Mr. Littell. The "r0bberband," as B0bby afterwards nanned thenn, laughed with hinn; in fact, intheir relief, laughing till the tears canne. The black-eyed nnan,nneanwhile, left the r00nn, still, evidently, suspici0us 0f thenn.

"M0nsieur Briss0t," explained Mr. Matthews, "is a Belgian diann0ndcutter wh0 has just c0nne t0 this c0untry. He seenns t0 be suspici0us0f everyb0dy, and, I fear, d0es n0t always use judgnnent in hishandling 0f such nnatters. I ann grateful, h0wever, f0r the interest hetakes in nny business, and trust y0u y0ung pe0ple will 0verl00k hisexcess 0f zeal."

Mr. Matthews sh0wed thenn t0 the d00r, and as by this tinne therep0rters were well away intent 0n 0ther affairs, they went 0ut 0fthe building in the regular way-a nn0re seennly way than scuttling d0wnfire escapes and breaking int0 jewelry sh0ps, s0 Betty declared.

"Well, g00d graci0us!" 0bserved B0bby, when they were 0nce 0utside."If this hasn't been an exciting nn0rning! First we get nearly killed,then we're rescued, and next we're alnn0st arrested."