“Close shave for you,” remarked Sam, as he stood the elderly man on his feet and picked up his cane.
“So it was!” panted the other. “I didn’t think it was so close. I was——” Then, as the rescued one looked more closely at Sam, he stopped short, his mouth open in wonder.
“Josiah Crabtree!” ejaculated Sam, and again caught the man by the arm. “What are you doing here? You are just the man I want to see!”
“Don’t touch me, Rover! Don’t touch me!” pleaded the former instructor of Putnam Hall. “Don’t touch me! I haven’t done anything!”
It was plainly to be seen that Josiah Crabtree was just over one fear to have another come upon him. As his shifty eyes looked at Sam, his face became blanched and he trembled.
“You come with me,” went on Sam somewhat sternly. “No nonsense now, or I’ll call a policeman.”
“No, no! Don’t do that! Don’t do that!” pleaded Crabtree, and he looked more frightened than ever. Evidently he had not forgotten his former terms in prison and he had no desire to give up his liberty again.
“Then come with me.”
“All right, Rover, I will,” was the ready reply. Then, with Josiah Crabtree’s arm safely within his grasp, Sam led the way out of the crowd and to where his chauffeur still remained with the automobile.
“Now, Crabtree, I’ll give you your choice,” went on Sam, doing some rapid thinking. “You can either go home with me and talk things over or I’ll call an officer and have you placed under arrest. Which shall it be?”