"
The boys led the way to the cottage, which the doctor occupied,
and went to his study where they found him.
"Write the number of the watch you are in search of on a piece
of paper, and let the doctor see the number of the watch," said
Jack to the detective, after telling the doctor why they had come.
Then we will see if this is the one or not.
The man wrote a number on a card, and handed it to the doctor,
who took the watch from a pigeon hole in his desk and opened it.
"The number is identical," he said, and handed the watch and the
card with the number on it to Jack that he might compare them.
"Yes, so they are," the boy said, showing them to Dick. "This
is certainly the watch you are in search of."
"May I ask you where and how you found it?" asked the detective,
still with the accusing air that both Dick and Jack himself resented.
"I found it in my pocket after coming from the fire at Mr. Van
der Donk's house last night or this morning," he replied.
"In your pocket? Was not that a singular place to find it? How
did it get in your pocket?"
"You know as much about that as I do," said the boy quietly.
"Are you sure you did not put it there yourself?" asked the man
in an insinuating manner, which Jack resented.
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