Billy and Paul were far from approving this kind of questioning. Yet they could see the object of Chief Fobes, which was to frighten and confuse the prisoner by making him believe a great deal was known about him, thereby leading him into admissions that would pave the way toward gaining a complete confession from him.
“I don’t know nothin’ about a coat, boss; but who’s lookin’ fer me?” called the one behind the bars as the officer and the boys started to move away.
“You’ll find that out quick enough,” said Fobes with a harsh laugh. But he did not pause and led the way to his own office again.
“Now,” said he, “you have seen how we go about it. We’ve set the yeast to workin’. He’ll be more ready to let out a little by the time I take his supper in to him.”
Chief Fobes was evidently much pleased with himself but he was not prepared for the rather unusual incident that followed.
“Where’s the kid that said might he ask me a question?” inquired the prisoner when the officer visited his cell again. “I want to see ’im if I can, boss!”
Billy was called only after Mr. Fobes had failed to extract from the man any information whatever. Cautioning the lad to tell the prisoner little or nothing, the policeman, who was also turnkey, it will have been noticed, took Worth into the lockup and left him.
“What was yer question, bub! Mebbe I might answer it,” said the fellow. He held a bar of the cell in each hand and leaned forward on his elbows. His face, pressed between the steel rods, had a really hideous look.
“Where’s the Big Six automobile that dinner basket came from? Now you tell me that and you’ll make a friend. You seem to need one all right.”
Billy was surprised by his own boldness in this speech. The fact was the man’s manner had quite startled him.