“Evidently the boy is a fool,” puffed the man, as he drew himself up.
“Yet I am not such a fool as to be deceived by you,” I returned warmly.
“Easy there, boy, or I will hand you over to—”
“Rather say that I will do the handing over,” I interrupted.
And to finish the farce, [I reached out and pulled on the heavy beard.] It came off without much trouble, and Mr. Norton was revealed to the gaze of the half-dozen passengers who had listened to our conversation.
“What do you mean by doing that?” he cried, catching me by the arm.
There was quite a titter of laughter among the people around.
“It means that I have exposed you,” I replied. “This is Mr. Enos Norton,” I went on in a loud voice. “He is wanted by the police at Bayport for the robbery of some diamonds.”
This announcement created quite a stir.