"Hebe isn't getting along as fast as you do, Mr. Billson," said Chet, in a low voice, for the Four Corners fellow was having a hard time to even move about on crutches.
"Dunno as he deserves any better than he's got," said Billson, grumpily.
"What you so cross about?" laughed Chet. "Surely you're not sore over the way folks are treating Hester Grimes _now_? She comes pretty near being the heroine of the Hill section."
"Ya-as. They praise her because she done what she did for little Johnny Doyle. But many of 'em still think she set that foolish boy onto raiding the girls' gymnasium."
"I don't know about that," confessed Chet, slowly. "Although we may believe that Rufe had something to do with it, perhaps he did it, after all, because he's not quite right in his head."
"Oh, shucks!" exclaimed Billson. "All because he was crying to be let out of the gym. the night of the first raid?"
"Well, Jackway admits he was there," repeated Chet.
"And Jackway is a good deal of a fool, too," snarled Billson. "Say! there's Rufe and his mother in the corridor now, going to see Johnny in the children's ward. You bring Rufe into this ward for a minute. I want to show you something."
Much puzzled, Chet Belding did as he was bid.
"Come here, Rufie," said Billson, beckoning to the gangling youth. "I want to show you somebody. Come here."
Billson swung back a section of the screen that hid Hebron Pocock's bed. The big fellow was lying there with his eyes closed, but he opened them quickly when Rufe appeared, and scowled.
"Watcher want here, gooney?" he demanded.
Rufus sprang back and looked about for escape, his weak face working pitifully. But Chet and Billson barred the way of escape. Rufe began to snivel.
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Chet.
"Are you afraid of this man?" asked Billson.
Rufe nodded, and tried to crowd farther away from the bed.
"What you doing to that kid?" demanded Hebe, sitting up. "What's the matter? Why! that's the softy I saw----"
"He's a bad man. He said he'd kill me if I told!" gasped Rufus.
"Where was that?" asked Billson, with his hand on the boy's arm. "Tell us all about it. He sha'n't touch you, Rufie."
"Aw! I wouldn't have really hurt the gooney," growled Hebe.
"He was in the place where Uncle Bill watches. I hate that old gymniasium! I wish it would burn down, so I do."