Again Chief Fobes escorted Worth through the dim corridor to the somewhat lighter basement cells. A window in the rear of the building was open, looking out upon a yard with trees and shrubbery. The prisoner was apparently enjoying the breeze that drifted in.
“Can’t I talk to the kid a second, boss?”
The one behind the bars having spoken thus, though he still turned his face toward the corridor window, Chief Fobes motioned Billy forward while he stepped back a few paces.
“Say, bub, did ye see that guy? Did ye tell ’im?”
For a fraction of time Worth did not understand. Then recalling more clearly the chance remark about “Smith” at the hotel, he answered, “No.”
“Didn’t, eh? Why didn’t ye?”
“You got mad yesterday and wouldn’t talk sense or anything else. Why should I pay any more attention to you? Tell me what you know about the car you took that motor basket from and I’ll do anything you ask that’s reasonable.”
“Ye was just lyin’ to me about that man Smith, now wasn’t ye?” the man returned in a low, earnest voice, ignoring Billy’s request. And then he added as the boy hesitated, and swearing as he had done the previous day, “Aw, I was just a-kiddin’ ye—just a-kiddin’ ye to pass the time away.”
CHAPTER V