Jerry’s assailant was a strong man and he was slowly but surely getting the best of the youth when three men put in an appearance. They were heavy-set individuals and were followed by a policeman.
“What’s up here?”
“Don’t kill that boy!”
“He is a thief!” cried Jerry. “He has that man’s diamond pin.”
“That’s right,” put in the westerner, who had managed to turn and catch hold of his assailant. “This fellow is his mate. They just tackled me when the boy came to my help.”
“It is a falsehood,” roared the footpad who had attacked our hero.
Saying this, he arose and tried to sneak away. But Jerry tripped him up, sending him headlong, and before he could rise the policeman had him handcuffed.
While this was going on the westerner and two of the new arrivals managed to make a prisoner of the other footpad. He used some terrible language, but this did not avail him.
“I know them,” said the policeman, after the capture was effected. “They are Hungry Pete and Jack the Slick. They are wanted for a burglary at Sheepshead Bay. How did you happen to fall in with them?”
“I met them up at Rumford’s Hotel. They said they knew a man I was looking for.”