Hunston turned savagely upon the detective at this allusion to his crippled state and made an attempt at using his one arm upon him.
But Pike was—to put it vulgarly—all there.
He dexterously dodged the blow, and whirling round secured a hold upon Hunston's collar—that peculiar grip which is the specialty of men who have been in the force.
Hunston struggled desperately to get free. In vain.
Do what he would, he found himself being trotted along to save himself from strangulation.
Not only was it physically painful.
Hunston had an overweening sense of his own importance and dignity, and this being run in just like some paltry pickpocket in a crowd, was galling to his vanity beyond all description.
What could he do?
He was powerless.
The wondering people stared at this singular exhibition, but they parted their ranks as Pike and his prisoner came along, and never offered to interfere.