We had a fight last week, and---" Dick could not repress a smile---"I thrashed him so that he was out of school for several days." "But Ripley was not at school for the last few days, until today," broke in Dr.Thornton.

"Now, a pin and a watch were missed while Ripley was not attending school." "I know it, sir," Dick nodded.

"As to those two articles I cannot offer even the ghost of an explanation." "I don't like to accuse you of taking Ripley's scarf-pin, nor do I like to suspect him of putting up such a contemptible trick," explained Dr.Thornton, thoughtfully.

"As far as the incident of the scarf-pin goes I am willing to admit that your explanation is just as likely to be good as is any other." "Prescott, what did you do with the other pin and the watch ?" shot in Policeman Hemingway, suddenly and compellingly.
It was well done.

Had Dick been actually guilty, he might either have betrayed himself, or gone to stammering.