But the boy's whole gaze was centered on a quiet little man---Hemingway, the plain clothes man from the police station.
"Don't look scared to death, Prescott," urged Dr.Thornton, with a faint attempt at a smile.

"We want to go through with a little formality---that is all.

This matter at the High School has puzzled me to such a degree that I left early today and went to consult with Mr.Hemingway.

Now, he thought it best that we come around here and have a talk with you." "I can begin that talk best," pursued Hemingway, "by asking you, Prescott, whether you have anything that you want to say first-off ?" "I can't say anything," replied Dick, slowly, "except that I know nothing as to how any of the articles missed at school came to vanish.

Ripley's pin was found in my pocket today, and I can only guess that some one---Ripley, perhaps dropped it in my pocket.
Ripley has some feelings of enmity for me, anyway.