Now, what do you say, sir ?" Fred's mind had been working like lightning.

He had come to the conclusion that it would be safe to bluff his denial through to the end.
"Father," he uttered, earnestly, in a voice into which he tried to throw intense earnestness and sincerity, "I give you my word of honor, as a Ripley, that I know nothing more about the missing money than you have just told me." "You are sure of that, Fred ?" "Sure of it, sir?
Why, I will take any oath that will satisfy-----" "We don't want any perjury here," cut in the lawyer, crisply, and touched a bell.
The folding doors behind them flew open with a bang.

As Fred started and whirled about he beheld a stranger advancing toward them, and that stranger was escorting---Tip Scammon.
The stranger halted with his jailbird companion some five or six feet away.

The stranger did not appear greatly concerned.

Tip, however, looked utterly abashed, and unable to raise his gaze from the floor.
"With this exhibit, young man," went on the lawyer, in a sorrowful tone, "I don't suppose it is necessary to go much further with the story.