“It was not. You’re a fine officer to take charge of a man.”
“Come, don’t talk to me that way,” cried the policeman.
“You didn’t attend to your business.”
“Say another word and I’ll run you in for loafing,” cried the policeman, catching Bob by the arm.
“Let go of me!”
“Then don’t say it was my fault. I had nothing to do with it. It was your duty to keep watch of the man until you made a charge against him.”
The policeman thought he could hoodwink Bob by saying this, but the youth’s common sense told him better.
“It was all your fault,” said Bob, breaking away. “I have your number, and perhaps I’ll report you. Now, I am going to hunt for the man again.”
And before the officer could stop him, Bob made off, while the policeman went back to his beat, there to concoct some excuse for his failure to do his duty.
Bob hurried down the street, looking in all directions for Barker, but the robber was nowhere to be seen.