“And you’ll skip out, too, if you get the chance,” remarked the policeman, grimly.
“If you think that, handcuff me to this fellow.”
“Do you mean that?”
“I do, sir.”
“Hang me if I don’t think you are honest, after all.”
“He’s a big thief!” bawled Mr. Wakefield Smith.
“Keep quiet and come along. They can straighten matters out at the precinct.”
The officer took Mr. Wakefield Smith by the arm and started to walk the prisoner away. With a dexterous twist the intoxicated man cleared himself and plunged down the street.
The bluecoat and Jerry made after him as quickly as they could, but a drawing school in the neighborhood had just let out, and they were detained by the crowd. Mr. Wakefield Smith stumbled across the street and down a side thoroughfare that was very dark. The officer and our hero went after him, but at the end of the second block he was no longer to be seen.
“Now you’ve let him escape,” said Jerry to the policeman. “I have a good mind to report you.”