"Secretary to some Chinese laundry company, eh?" jeered Dick.
"I'm a police officer," retorted the man sharply, at the same time displaying a shield.
That put a different look on matters with some of young Prescott's friends. Dick, however, was a boy not easily daunted.
"If you're an officer," he inquired, "why don't you get busy and do your duty? Here's a man trying to rob his wife, just because she happens to have more money than he has."
"A man can't legally steal from his wife, nor a woman from her husband," retorted the policeman bullyingly. "There is no crime being committed here. But if you boys try to interfere you'll be disturbing the peace, and I'll run you all in."
Mrs. Dexter looked bewildered and frightened. She even let go of the handbag with one hand. Dick saw this, and quickly broke in:
"Mrs. Dexter, don't you let Mr. Dexter have that handbag unless you want to do it. We'll stand by you."
"Oh, will you?" glared the policeman. "You boys run along, or I'll gather you all in."
"Where are you a policeman?" inquired Dick Prescott, eyeing the fellow with interest. "You're not a Gridley officer, for I know every one of them."
"Never you mind where I'm from," jeered the man harshly. "I'm a policeman. That'll have to be enough for you youngsters. If you don't trot fast down the street I'll gather you in."