As a
lawyer, Mr. Ripley, what would you conclude from the evidence
thus presented?"
"Call that dog away!" ordered Mr. Ripley.
"Willingly, sir," Dick agreed, "now that you have had opportunity
to look into all the evidence that we found. Harry, will you do
the honors?"
Smiling slightly, Hazelton stepped forward to speak to Towser.
That four-footed guardian of the camp displayed some resentment
at first over the idea of letting go of Fred's shirt. After a
little, however, Hazelton succeeded in getting his dog away and
tied to a tree.
Fred rose to his feet, his face fiery red while he trembled visibly.
"What is the meaning of this, young man?" demanded Lawyer Ripley.
"The meaning," choked the lawyer's son wrathfully, "is just this:
I was coming by this place this morning in the runabout, when
I heard a good deal of coarse laughter down here. I knew the
voices weren't those of boys, and so I knew that something must
be up. I got out of the car and came over here. I saw two tramps
in the camp. They had already cut down the tent, and when I arrived
they were planning to cart the food away. Then they saw me as
I stepped forward. I told them what I thought of them for thieving
in such fashion. Then the tramps got ready to jump on me and
thrash me. Just as I raised my hands to defend myself this dog
came bounding out of the woods and the tramps ran away. Having
no more sense than any other fool dog, the cur pinned me down
and held me here.
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