Why all this anger ?" "Because I've heard enough hints and insinuations around this camp, that's why!" I said.

Jiminy, I could just feel my voice tremble.
Poor Skinny was fumbling at one of his pockets and he was so scared and nervous, that he couldn't get his hand in even.

So I just stepped over and pulled his pocket inside out.
[Illustration: I STEPPED OVER AND PULLED HIS POCKETS INSIDE OUT.] "Four pennies," I said, "see?
Poor but honest, hey, Alf ?" And I gave him a good rap on the shoulder.

I guess it made him feel good, because he smiled at me even though he did look scared.
Then one after another I pulled all his other pockets inside out, and last I turned out the flap pockets in his khaki shirt.

Just as I did that, a key fell out.
"Four cents and a key," I said; "now are you satisfied ?" "We never said he had it," Hunt Ward spoke up.
"Well, now you can see he hasn't anyway," I said.
All the while Mr.Ellsworth waited just as if he didn't have much use for all this business, but just the same wouldn't interfere.