CHAPTER XIX. 

ABOUT THE ROBBERY. 

If Ralph had been astonished before, he was doubly so now. He looked from one to another of the men in amazement. 

"Do you really think I am one of the thieves?" he gasped. 

"It's mighty suspicious," responded Jack Rodman. "You were seen in the neighborhood of the post office to-night, and then this knife business is a clew." 

"I don't think Ralph will run away," said Bart Haycock. "I myself think he is innocent." 

"Thank you for those words," said the boy. "I am innocent." 

"Then you have no objections to our making a search about here," said the constable. 

"Not any objection whatever," said Ralph, promptly. "Search where you please." 

"I'll help you," said Uriah to the constable. 

"Hadn't you better hold me tight?" suggested Ralph, with a sarcasm which was entirely lost on the miserly storekeeper. 

"Well, I dunno," hesitated Uriah. 

"I will see to it that he doesn't run away," said the blacksmith. "This makes me sick, Ralph," he added, in a low tone. "I know you are as innocent as a babe. That post office was robbed by professionals." 

The constable and Uriah knocked on the cottage door and Mrs. Nelson let them in. She was greatly surprised when Jack Rodman declared his errand. 

"Ralph is indeed innocent!" she exclaimed. "You may search the premises all you please." 

The constable and Uriah took a lamp, and the search began. Every nook and corner of the cottage was gone over, but nothing that looked like what had been taken--money and registered letters--came to light.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who did Jack assume to be a thief?
2. In Jack's opinion, who was the thief?
3. Who was stealing things, according to Jack?
Q2:
1. Who believed Ralph to be innocent?
2. Who thought that Ralph was not guilty?
3. Who was a proponent of Ralph's innocence?
Q3:
1. Where was Ralph seen this evening?
2. Where could Ralph be found on this night/
3. What was Ralph's location this evening?
Q4:
1. What was the constable hoping to do?
2. What did the constable desire?
3. What action did the constable wish to take?
Q5:
1. Who was going to help the constable?
2. Who planned on lending a hand to the constable?
3. Who intended on coming to the constable's aid?
Q6:
1. What got ransacked?
2. What did somebody rob?
3. What did someone steal from?
Q7:
1. Who did the blacksmith believe to be guilty?
2. According to the blacksmith, who committed the robbery?
3. In the opinion of the blacksmith, who was guilty of committing the robbery?
Q8:
1. Who lived in the house that was going to be searched?
2. Who was the inhabitant of the house that was going to be searched?
3. Who occupied the house that was soon to be searched?
Q9:
1. Did Mrs. Nelson think Ralph to be guilty?
2. Did Mrs. Nelson believe Ralph was the robber?
3. Was Mrs. Nelson convinced of Ralph's guilt?
Q10:
1. Who declared their intentions to Mrs. Nelson?
2. Who let Mrs. Nelson know what they planned on doing?
3. Who stated their purpose to Mrs. Nelson?
Q11:
1. Did Mrs. Nelson allow the search?
2. Did Mrs. Nelson say it was okay for her home to be searched?
3. Did Mrs. Nelson permit the search to go on?
Q12:
1. What did the constable use to see as he searched?
2. What was the light source for the search party?
3. What did the search party have as a source of light?
Q13:
1. Did the constable and his party miss anything in their search?
2. Were there things that remained overlooked during the search?
3. Did things not get overturned during the search?
Q14:
1. What was stolen during the robbery?
2. What did the robber take?
3. What were the stolen goods?
Q15:
1. Were any of the stolen goods found?
2. Did the constable locate anything that was stolen?
3. Was anything that had been taken able to be found?
