About a quarter of a mile down, they saw the fire engine returning. The firemen waved to people as they passed. One of the firemen shouted to a friend at the curb, “False alarm!”
“Did you hear that?” asked Jack, turning to his friends.
“Yes,” answered Paul, “I heard it. I’m just wondering.”
“Wondering about what?”
“Just thinking of something.”
The boys began to walk back. For a while they were silent. “By golly!” exclaimed Paul, slapping his right fist into his palm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if—”
He stopped to think for a second. “If what?” asked Ken.
“If that gang,” continued Paul, “were not responsible for the false alarm.”
“How do you mean?” asked Jack.
“Pretty soon,” commented Ken, “you will have that gang responsible for everything that happens in this town.”