“‘She is,’ says the cop, ‘and this time she gits what’s comin’ to her. She been a dam’ nuisance,’ he says, ‘and this here time I’m goin’ to put her over the jumps. Git out and git inside,’ he says to her.
“Well, Potter sort of edged up to the cop and looks him over and says, ‘I don’t really see why this young lady has to go inside. You can make your complaint, and that about ends your usefulness.’
“‘She stays,’ says the cop, ‘and if I got anything to say about it, she sleeps on a plank.’
“‘You wouldn’t care to do that, would you, Miss von Essen?’ says Potter, with that grin of his, and I made ready to duck, because when he grins that way—”
“We know,” said the boys.
“‘Now you listen to reason,’ says Potter. ‘A police station is no place for a young lady. It doesn’t smell pleasantly. So she doesn’t go in. If bail’s necessary or if anything’s necessary, I’m here for that. But omit the stern policeman part of it.’
“‘Git out and come in,’ says the cop to the girl.
“‘You and I are going in, friend,’ says Potter, and he took hold of the policeman’s arm. ‘We’ll fix this up—not the young lady. Come on,’ says Potter, with his left fist all doubled up and ready.
“The cop knew Potter, so they parleyed, and then they walked under the porch—you know the entrance to the station—and in a couple of minutes out comes Potter, looking sort of sneering and shoving a roll of bills into his pocket.
“‘Seems there was some mistake,’ he says to Miss von Essen. ‘It wasn’t you who broke the speed ordinance; it was I. I’ve arranged the mistake with the officer. Now, for cat’s sake, cut it out. You’ll be breaking into print good one of these days, and there’ll be the devil to pay ... or breaking your neck. You’ll get yourself talked about if you don’t ease off some.’ And,” said Randall, “he hardly knows the girl. Some line of talk for Potter to ladle out!”