"Listen, old man," he said. "I'm a reporter."
The deputy stepped back in mock surprise.
"You don't say so!" he exclaimed. "A reporter, eh? Well, you ain't nobody, see! Why, one of your pals we got in there told me he was the sheriff's nephew. Another one tried to bull me that he was one of Gibson's men."
"Gibson!" exclaimed John. Then it dawned on him; this was one of the police commissioner's "personally conducted" raids, his first attack on "Gink" Cummings, without a doubt.
"Yes, Gibson," said the deputy. "What about it?"
"Is this one of Gibson's raids?" he asked.
"You guessed it," snapped the deputy. "Now, get along there. Hop on that truck with the rest of the gents and see if you can't get consolation from the sheriff's nephew and the bird that tried to bull me he was working for Gibson."
"But I am a reporter," protested John. "You'll find out soon enough."
"Don't get gay!" threatened the deputy. "Don't get gay!"