“What for? I’d give you a good thrashing only I want to catch those thieves that took this old man’s watch!”
By this time quite a crowd had gathered, and the man, as well as Larry and the old gentleman, were hemmed in. At the same time a policeman sauntered up to see what the trouble was, and Larry felt that he could now put his plan into execution.
“I guess you won’t have to chase the thieves very far,” the boy said to the chap who had been reading the paper.
“Well, I like your impudence! What do you mean?” demanded the fellow.
“I think you know something about this robbery,” spoke Larry boldly.
“I’ll have you arrested for that!” exclaimed the fellow. “Here, officer, just hold this boy until to-morrow and I’ll make a charge against him. I shouldn’t be surprised if he took the watch himself. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Just wait a minute,” put in the man who had been robbed. “I don’t believe this boy took my watch. You may know something of it. If you do not you’ll not object to being searched.”
“Search me? Well, I guess not!” the man cried. “I’m going to chase after those thieves.”
“Not so fast, my gay bird,” said the officer, coming up through the crowd. “Let’s see what you have in your pocket, anyhow. I’ve seen you before. You hang out over on the Bowery.”
With a quick motion the policeman put his hand in the fellow’s outside coat pocket.