Hooker said something in a low tone, and then started off, while the Jew turned back into the shop.
“Come,” said Frank, “and we must be careful, too. I want to see this thing through to the end.”
They followed Hooker.
CHAPTER IV.
MYSTERIOUS MOVES.
The manner of the outcast seemed changed with his clothes. Up to the time that he entered the Jew’s shop he had not seemed suspicious, but now he had a strange, skulking air, and he sometimes paused and looked round, as if fearing that he was being watched. Fortunately, on every occasion that Hooker looked back Frank and Bart were able to avoid being seen and recognized; but this apparent suspicion on the part of the one they were following caused Merry’s confidence in him to take another slump.
More and more was Frank impressed with the Jekyll-and-Hyde idea. Somehow, Hooker seemed completely transformed. Before the change there had been a kind of desperate independence in his manner, as if he felt himself as good as anybody, no matter what the world might think of him, but now he skulked and sneaked along the streets, and seemed to avoid the gaze of those who would have looked into his face.
“He couldn’t do anything better to draw suspicion upon himself, if he is up to crooked work,” thought Frank.
The quarter of the city which they now came to was the very lowest along the water-front. The buildings were old and dirty, and saloons were frequent. Wretched men and women were afloat on the streets, and sailors were seen frequently.
“This would be a fine locality for a man to be murdered in!” muttered Bart.