“You go ‘way an’ leave me alone,” mumbled the man.  And then, as he caught sight of the Rovers, he tried to brace up.

“Hello, you here!” he exclaimed.

“Yes, we want to talk to you, Royce,” answered Tom.  Then he motioned the children away, and led the former gardener of the seminary towards the alleyway beside the hotel.

CHAPTER XXIV

 Andy Royce’s confession

“Want to talk to me, eh?” mumbled Andy Royce.  “What you want, anyhow?”

“See here, Royce! what is the use of your drinking like this?” broke in Sam.  “Is that the way to use the money my brother’s wife loaned you?”

“I ain’t been drinkin’,” mumbled the man.  “That is, I ain’t had much.”

“You’ve had more than is good for you,” put in Tom.  “A man like you ought to leave liquor alone entirely.”

“Maybe I would—­ if I had a job,” growled the former gardener.  “But when a man ain’t got no work an’ no friends it’s pretty hard on him;” and he showed signs of bursting into tears.

“See here, Royce, you brace up and be a man!” cried Tom.  “Because you haven’t any position is no reason at all why you should drink.  You ought to save every cent of your money and make it last as long as possible.”

“All right, just as you say, Mr. Rover,” mumbled the man.

It was evident to the youths that the man was in no condition to think clearly.  Evidently he had been drinking more or less for a long while, for his face showed the signs of this dissipation.  His clothing was ragged, and he was much in need of a shave and a bath.  Certainly he did not look at all like the gardener he had been when he had first come to Hope.

“See here, Royce, I want to ask you a few questions,” said Tom.  “Do you remember about that diamond ring that disappeared at Hope while you were there?”

“Eh?  What?” stammered the former gardener.  “Who said I knew anything about that ring?” and he showed confusion.

“Did you hear anything about it at all?” asked Sam.

“Say, is this a trap?” mumbled the man.  “If it is, you ain’t goin’ to ketch me in it.  Not much you ain’t!”

“Look here!  If you know anything about this, Royce, you tell us,” declared Tom, struck by the man’s manner.

“I ain’t goin’ to say nothin’!  I didn’t steal the ring!” cried Andy Royce.

“But you know something about it, don’t you!” declared Tom, sharply; and caught the former gardener by the arm.

“Say, you lemme go!  I ain’t goin’ to tell you a thing!” cried the man, in alarm.  “You ain’t goin’ to trap me like this.  I know wot I’m doin’.  Lemme go, I say!” and he tried to break away.

“You’re not going a step, Royce, until you tell us the truth,” declared Tom, now quite satisfied in his own mind that the former gardener was holding something back.

“If you took that ring you had better confess,” broke in Sam.