CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE THIEF IS CAUGHT.
Frank was calling on Paul Pierson when Harry Rattleton burst into the room like a whirlwind.
“Quick, Merry!” he cried. “The pickens is to-day—I mean, the dickens is to pay!”
“What’s up?” asked Frank, springing to his feet.
“Come on, and I will tell you. Got to move quick. Come along, Pierson. Don’t waste a moment.”
Out of the room hustled Harry, with the others at his heels.
Pierson’s room in Farnham was on the same floor with Merriwell. Now Rattleton led the way straight toward Frank’s room.
As they came in sight of Frank’s door it swung open, and, with the stealth of a cat, Sidney Gooch slipped out.
Frank saw the fellow come out, and, with an exclamation of anger, Merry shot past Rattleton and grabbed Gooch by the collar. Sidney gasped, turned pale and tried to break away, but Frank held fast, angrily demanding:
“What were you doing in my room?”
“Take him in again, Merry,” advised Rattleton. “If you chin with him out here a score of fellows will hear it all.”
Frank instantly realized this was true, and, as Rattleton threw open the door, he forced the trembling Gooch back into the room. Pierson followed them, and Rattleton closed the door.
“Now answer me,” said Frank, his eyes flashing fire ashe looked at his cowering enemy; “what were you doing in my room?”
“I—I was looking for a friend,” faltered Sidney, his manner proclaiming the lie.
“What friend?”
“Oh—ah—Billings.”
“Billings? Well, I must say my room is a singular place to look for Billings! That gentleman never calls on me. It won’t go down, Gooch. How did you get into my room?”
“Why, I simply opened the door and walked in.”
“That is not true! The door was locked. I took pains to lock it when I went out, as there have been a number of fresh robberies in this building of late.”
“Perhaps you think you took pains to lock it, but you were mistaken. I found it unlocked.”
“You lie!” came hotly from the lips of Harry Rattleton. “I saw you unlocking the door with a key! I saw you when you came in here. I hurried to tell Merriwell, and that is how we came to catch you. You are trapped, Gooch. It’s plain we have caught the thief.”
A crafty look came into the eyes of the captive, and he muttered:
“Oh, I don’t know! You may think so, but you’ll soon find out who the thief is. I was simply doing a little detective work, and I shall appear as evidence against the real thief.”
Frank and Harry exchanged glances.
“Search him,” advised Rattleton.
“That’s right,” nodded Pierson. “Search him.”
Gooch paled again.
“You shall not!” he cried. “I will not stand it! I protest against the outrage!”
“Protest and be hanged!” exploded Rattleton. “We are going to search you! Come on, fellows.”
“I shall shout for help! I shall scream!”
“If you do, we’ll tell whoever comes how we caught you in Merry’s room.”
Then they fastened on Gooch, and, despite his struggles, set about searching him.
“Ha! what are these?” cried Pierson, as he brought forth a great bunch of keys. “Door keys! What do you want of all these, Gooch?”
Sidney began to whimper.
“What’s this?” exclaimed Rattleton, drawing a handsome cigarette case from Gooch’s pocket. “It’s marked with a monogram, ‘P. P.’”
“It’s mine!” cried Pierson. “It was taken from my room within two days!”
“And what is this?” said Frank, taking a ring from the captive’s pocket. “That’s a queer place to carry a diamond ring.”
“Let’s look at it!” said Pierson, catching it from Frank. “By Jove! It’s Emery’s! He lost it yesterday!”
“Fellows,” said Harry, “we have the thief!”
Down on his knees Gooch dropped.
“Don’t tell on me, fellows!” he begged, shivering like a leaf. “Don’t expose me! It will ruin me! It will kill my mother! Just think what it will mean to me! I will be disgraced for life!”
“You deserve it!” came pitilessly from Pierson. “We can’t keep still now.”
“And we won’t!” cried Rattleton.
Tears rained down the face of the guilty fellow.
“Don’t ruin me, boys!” he begged. “I am sorry I did it! I’ll write home to mother and confess to her. She will send me money to pay back everything I have taken, and I will restore every article. Right here may be the turning point of my life. You may be responsible if I become a criminal! Give me one chance.”
“Gooch,” said Frank, sternly, “if we give you a chance, will you promise to turn over a new leaf? Will you promise to make good everything you have stolen, and never touch another thing that does not belong to you? More than that, will you agree to go personally to the fellows you have stolen these articles from and ask their forgiveness as you return them? You can pledge them to secrecy. If they keep your secret, you will be safe. It’s your only chance. What do you say to it?”
“I will do anything! I will show you I am in earnest by beginning now and exposing a plot to ruin you, Frank Merriwell!”