"Yes; that's why I want you to keep quiet," retorted the policeman, with no great show of awe or respect.
"But——"
"Get back and keep quiet until I've had time to look into this thing!" blazed the policeman ominously.
"Minion of the hireling law," began the elder Hepburn, running his fingers through his hair and striking an attitude.
"Hepburn, in the name of the Commonwealth, I demand your assistance in taking care of the prisoners," retorted the policeman grimly. "Disobey at your peril. Here, take charge of this prisoner," indicating Bunny. "If you let him escape you'll go to jail for it!"
Thus summoned in the name of the Commonwealth the elder Hepburn, though he loathed his task, had to play the part of a police officer or take the consequences. Hepburn, like his son, was noisy but not brave; he had no desire to serve his state in jail, so he served it on the street.
However, the arresting party and prisoners had gone only as far as the next corner when they encountered Chief of Police Blake, an official who was not afraid of any one or anything.
"What's this?" asked the chief.
Hal and Noll were asked to explain the affair, while the two Hepburns and Bunny's companions were forced, much against their will, to keep still.
"We don't care about pressing any charge, chief," Hal added. "This crowd got punished enough as it was."