“What’s doing here!” he demanded. “Who did that shooting back there?”
“These two boys did it!” Max promptly explained, pointing at Alex and Case. “They shot out the lights and robbed the till!”
The officer put up his revolver and his night stick, seized Alex and Case by the shoulders, and started off up the street, the toughs following at his heels. There was a patrol box on the next corner and the boys attempted no defence of their conduct until this was reached. As the policeman turned the key he glanced quickly from one face to the other.
“What have you boys got to say for yourselves?” he asked.
“We’ll tell that to the judge,” replied Alex.
“Come, now, don’t get gay!” the officer said. “You don’t look like boys who would be apt to get into a scrape like that.”
The boys were so pleased at having escaped from the restaurant with whole heads that they did not much mind the arrest. In fact, just at that moment the officer was about the most welcome person who could have made his appearance, with the exception of Captain Joe, of course.
The dog now stood close by the patrol box showing his teeth and asking Alex for permission to take the officer by the leg.
“We haven’t robbed any tills lately!” Alex said, wrinkling his freckled nose at the officer.
“Lookout!” one of the boys shouted from the crowd. “That bulldog will get you, officer. He chewed up two boys back in the restaurant.