"Give me the paper!" cried the officer, his voice becoming shrill with anger.
"I tell you we haven't the paper," said Hal.
"That's a lie!" shouted the Italian. "You knocked me down and stole the paper."
He clutched Hal by the arm.
"Let go of me," said the lad angrily. "We are trying to help you and—"
The Italian officer now suddenly drew his revolver, and pointed it squarely at Hal.
"Give me the paper or I shall shoot," he said more quietly.
He staggered suddenly backward and the revolver dropped to the ground with a clatter. The Italian wheeled and confronted the angry face of Chester, who had struck up the weapon.
"What's the matter with you? Can't you see we are trying to help you?" demanded Chester.
At this point there came a diversion. Members of the crowd who had witnessed the dispute between the officer and the two lads suddenly set up a cry of "spies."