“Certainly, certainly,” exclaimed the other somewhat flippantly. “It was all my fault, I do assure you, and I am very sorry.”
“That’s all right,” said the elderly man, much mollified at the polite manner of the young men. “I suppose it was an accident. The car sometimes lurches considerably.”
“No, no, it was not an accident, it was all my fault, and I insist on apologizing,” went on the man who had first spoken. “I shall feel offended if you do not let me apologize.”
All this while Larry noticed that the young man’s hands seemed to be busy in the neighborhood of the old gentleman’s watch chain. His companion was crowding close to the latter, while a third man, who did not seem to be in company of the other two, but who was apparently engaged in reading a newspaper, held the sheet close under the elderly man’s chin.
“Then I’ll accept your apology,” the gentleman remarked, in good humor again.
“By Jove! This is my street!” the first young man exclaimed suddenly, as he made a jump from the still moving car.
“And mine also,” remarked his companion.
Larry’s suspicions were aroused, particularly as the two men had seemed to be handing something to the one who was so industriously reading the paper. Still he did not like to say anything, though he was almost certain that the men were pickpockets. He had heard Mr. Newton describe how such criminals worked on street cars.
Suddenly the elderly gentleman put his hand into his pocket and gave a cry:
“I’ve been robbed! Those fellows took my gold watch! I wondered what they were up to. Stop the car! I must chase them! My watch is worth five hundred dollars!”