“A boy in girl’s clothing?” gasped Ruth.
“‘A wolf in sheep’s clothing!’” laughed her chum.
“Ya-as indeedy, missy. Das wot dey say.”
“Are they sure he came aboard this boat?” asked Ruth anxiously.
“Sho is, missy. Dey done trailed him right to de dock. Das wot de head steward heard ’em say. De taxicab man remembered him—he acted so funny in dem girl’s clo’es—he, he, he! Das one silly trick, das wot dat is,” chuckled the darkey. “No boy gwine t’ look like his sister in her clo’es—no, indeedy.”
But Ruth and Helen were now staring at each other with the same thought in their minds. “Oh, Helen!” murmured Ruth. And, “Oh, Ruth!” responded Helen.
“Ought we to tell?” pursued Helen, putting all the burden of deciding the question on her chum as usual. “It’s that very strange looking girl we saw going into number forty-eight; isn’t it?”
“It is most certainly that person,” agreed Ruth positively.
CHAPTER II—THE WORM TURNS
Ruth Fielding was plentifully supplied with good sense. Under ordinary circumstances she would not have tried to shield any person who was a fugitive from justice.