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. 
Did they miss anything in their search?
 Every nook and corner of the cottage was gone over