Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/309

Rh "Senor Boswell," he began, "you have sent for me, and"

"Mendez!" gasped Tom.

"Mendez!" echoed Sid, Frank and Phil.

"Yes, Mendez," spoke Boswell. "Now, Parsons, I think he'll tell you that I bought that brooch from him. Show him the pin!"

"I—er—" began the tall pitcher, and then realizing that concealment from Phil was no longer possible, he held out the trinket.

"Ruth's brooch!" cried her brother. "How in the world did you get it? What does it all mean?"

"It's a long story," said Tom. "We haven't time for more than a fraction of it. Boswell had the pin. He says"

"I say I bought it of Mendez, and he'll tell you the same thing!" interrupted the rich lad. "Did I not?" and he appealed to the Mexican. "Didn't you bring this to me to-day?"

"Senor Boswell is right," assented the foreigner. "I have sold many things to Senor Boswell. He say for me to look for an old-fashioned brooch for him, like one his mother has, and he show me a jewel of the respected Mrs. Boswell, which I have also procure for him. I get this other one from Senor Blasdell, from whom I take over the take-care work on Crest Island."