“That’s Miss Klopper,” he remarked. “I’ve fooled ’em.”
Then he heard confused sounds throughout the house, and he knew they were searching for him. But he had selected his hiding place well. Besides, the dangling rope did deceive the professor and the policeman.
“The rascal has gotten away,” said Mr. Klopper, when a superficial search of the house failed to reveal the boy. “I did not think he would do that.”
“Most any boy would, under the circumstances,” observed the policeman grimly. “You shouldn’t have told him you were going to have him arrested. If you’d come away quietly and got me we would have him now.”
“I’ll get him yet,” declared the professor savagely. “I will compel him to tell me where he pawned my gold loving cup. I shall also cable to his father of what he has done, as soon as I get his address. I never supposed, after all my teaching, that Jack would prove such a rascal.”
“Maybe he didn’t take the cup,” suggested the officer.
“I know he did,” insisted the former teacher, as if that settled it.
Meanwhile, Jack remained in hiding. He heard the house grow more quiet after the officer took his departure. The professor had given up the search, though he had asked the authorities to send out a general alarm for the runaway boy.
“It must be quite dark outside by now,” thought Jack, after an hour or more behind the big chest. “I wonder if it’s safe to venture downstairs? I’m almost starved, for I didn’t have any supper. Guess I’d better wait a while. The professor and his sister go to bed early, and they’re sound sleepers. Then I’ll sneak out and get something from the pantry.”
He waited another hour. Then, taking off his shoes, and carrying them in one hand, while in the other he carried the dress-suit case, he stole down the attic stairs.