Then it came to him like a flash, that his was the voice he had heard saying to the other man the words about being at the Arizona at five in the morning.

It was certain to him then that Henry Roberts was connected with the kidnapping, and while it was impossible for him to comprehend the meaning of the episode in which he was an enforced actor, he had settled it in his mind, that if Regy was to be found, it would be through this man.

He should have told all this—­his knowledge and his suspicions—­to the police when he was taken to the inspector’s office and examined; but he did not realize the importance of doing so, and his eagerness to gain the money for his father’s sake was so great that he merely answered the questions put to him.

As for the man, whom he had come to look upon as his enemy, and who, indeed, seemed to have transferred to the son the hatred and ill-will he had once borne the father, it was found impossible to fix any sort of complicity on him.

The child was easily proven to be the son of respectable parents, who had been promised long ago by Mr. Roberts that he should go some morning to see an ocean steamer off.  The clothes had been purchased some time before at a clothing store.

So Mr. Roberts was dismissed; but no apology was made to him, and he demanded none.  Of course, no one thought of apologizing to Andy for a detention of four hours at police headquarters, for Mr. Roberts had not failed to inform the inspector that Andy’s father was in Sing Sing, and it is natural for police to judge a child by his parents.

So Andy was dismissed, with a warning not to mix himself up in matters that did not concern him.  And Andy went out of the gloomy building, feeling that there was not much justice to be had from the law.

There was his father, innocent and in prison; and here was he, dismissed, as if he was not much better than a criminal himself.  And to be told not to mix himself up in the matter!  As for that, he would not give up his search for Regy because they told him to.

CHAPTER X.

A Mysterious Letter.

Andy walked out into the street, feeling very ill-used and indignant, and was for hurrying away as quickly as possible, forgetting for the moment that he had determined on a certain course to pursue.

“I thought fer sure yer was in fer a trip to the island,” said a voice behind him.

Andy turned and there was Pete following after him.

“Oh, is that you, Pete?  I had forgotten all about you.  Where did you come from?”

“Yer didn’t think I’d give yer the go-by now, did yer?” asked Pete, in an injured tone.  “I was waitin’ fer yer all the time.  I don’t go back on a pardner like that.  Why, if they’d shipped yer up to the island, I’d a’ been there to say good-by to yer, an’ don’t yer ferget it.  Yer give me a breakfast this morning, didn’t yer?  Yer licked them fellers, didn’t yer?  Well, Pete, if he’s got only one name, don’t go back on yer.  See?  An’ that settles it.”