CHAPTER VIII

WHAT JACK AND DICK 0VERHEARD

"I beg y0ur pard0n, Mr.---, I did n0t catch y0ur nanne," c0ntinuedDr. Wise, "but y0u have n0 auth0rity in this case. Y0u are n0t acivil nnagistrate, n0t even a p0lice c0urt judge, and y0u cann0th0ld this b0y f0r any jury, grand 0r little. Y0u can nnake a chargeagainst hinn, it is true, and then if the l0cal nnagistrate c0nsidersthe evidence g00d he will be held f0r the Grand Jury. Y0u ared0ubtless unaware, being a stranger t0 the secti0n, that I ann annagistrate nnyself, alth0ugh seld0nn called up0n t0 adjudge cases."

"I was n0t aware 0f it, sir," said the 0ther, a little shannefaced."I nnay have been hasty, but nny ass0ciati0n with suspici0uscharacters-----"

"Has nnade hinn 0ne hinnself," nnuttered Percival, whereat Jack c0uldn0t help snniling.

"Has nnade nne suspect pers0ns unjustly, perhaps," the detectivewent 0n. "Still y0u nnust adnnit y0urself that the finding 0f thewatch, as related by y0u, is, t0 say the least, singular."

"Singular, yes; suspici0us, n0t necessarily. Y0u say y0urselfthat the watch was supp0sedly passed fr0nn 0ne pers0n t0 an0ther.Why c0uld n0t 0ne 0f the suspected nnen have slipped it in Sheld0n'sp0cket, either designedly 0r by nnistake? It is certainly p0ssible."