“What thief?”
“The one who just dodged round this corner.”
“I didn’t see any one,” said the surprised officer.
“Then you were asleep!” snorted Merriwell, scrambling up just as Maloney came panting and shouting round the corner.
“Stop thafe! stop thafe!” howled Dennis.
“Stop thief! stop thief!” shouted Dick, taking up the cry and leading Maloney by barely a few yards in the breathless rush down the street.
Into the very heart of town they raced, and the crowds upon the lighted street scattered to give them room. People stared in wonderment, seeking to catch a glimpse of the fleeing thief whom those two policemen seemed pursuing. A crowd of men and boys fell in behind Maloney, joining in the cry of, “Stop thief!”
“There he is, the spallpane!” panted Dennis, pointing at Dick, who was gradually increasing the distance between them. “Shtop him! shtop him!”
But no one fancied that he meant the blue-coated person who seemed to be leading this wild and desperate pursuit of the unseen thief. Pointing ahead, Dick took up the cry of the Irish cop.
“There he is! there he is! Stop him! stop him!”