"Why didn't you call out?"
"That wouldn't have done any good. Besides, Curly was on the move directly. He joined his mate down the street, got something from him, and ran back all in a breath to give it to Jim."
The two men exchanged significant glances. Thus far, at any rate, the story fitted in very well with the suspected boy's assertions.
"But if you knew these boys had been thieving, I can't understand why you did not tell your chum," said Mr. Farrant.
"I didn't know for certain," responded Dick promptly. "Besides, I thought the best thing was to keep an eye on them."
"That's reasonable enough."
"And it was lucky I did, too. I followed them into West Street, where they bought three pennyworth of bananas. Then they went on to a tobacconist's, and Bryant bought a packet of cigarettes. He paid for them with a shilling."
"How do you know that?"
"Because directly he came out I went in and asked the man. His name's Martin, and he knows me. He doesn't know Bryant; but he could recognize him."
"And what about the shilling?"