“Stealing a gold cup from some professor there. I don’t know much about the case. I was only told to arrest a lad with a dress-suit case, and I’m looking for him. I thought you was him, first, but you haven’t any case.”
“Oh, no,” spoke Jack, hoping the one in the doorway would not be seen.
“I’d like to arrest him,” continued the constable. “I hear there’s a reward offered for him, and I’d like to get it.”
Evidently, Professor Klopper must have been very much incensed over his ward’s escape to offer a reward, for he was very fond of money. Jack resolved to use every means to avoid capture.
“Well, I’d better be getting on,” said the officer. “If you go right down this street you’ll come to the depot. You can just make the train. Generally it’s a little late. If you see a lad with a suit case, tell the first constable you meet.”
“I understand,” answered Jack, and grinned to himself.
He walked on slowly, looking back once or twice to see if the constable was watching him. But that officer evidently had no suspicions, for he did not once peer after Jack.
When the man had gone some distance, and had turned down a side street, Jack ventured to retrace his steps and get his suit case.
“I can’t leave that behind,” he thought. “It’s all I’ve got in the world now.”
He reached the station without further incident, congratulating himself upon his narrow escape. Then, as he walked up the depot platform, he resolved to practice another bit of caution.