The next instant he had disappeared through the hole, and was gone.
But in mounting the stack of cases he had dislodged several and these now tumbled down, making a lively racket. The noise was followed by several exclamations, and the sound of hasty feet upon a stairway.
"Hey, you, vat you do here?" cried a voice; and Richard felt his arm grasped by a tall and savage looking German workman.
CHAPTER XIII.
RICHARD CALLS ON MR. JOYCE.
As the hand of the German workman grasped Richard's arm the boy realized that he was in an awkward fix. Appearances were all against him, and as the man glared at him Richard knew not what to say.
"Come now, vat vas you doing here, hey?" demanded the German.
"I—I was after a boy who stole something from me," stammered Richard.
"After a poy?"
"Yes. He ran down here, and I came after him."