"I tell you to let go of him. He is an acquaintance"
"I'll see whether he can or not," and the bully was about to drag Teddy away, aided by his half-intoxicated friend, when a familiar voice from the outskirts of the crowd cried:
"Hold on there! What are you about?"
"I've caught the feller what sneaked away the jewelry swindler's money, an' am goin' to put him with his partner."
"You are going to take your hand off his collar this instant, or get yourself into trouble," and the merchant from Waterville forced his way through the throng until he stood by Teddy's side.
"Is that you, Mr. Reaves?" the bully asked, in surprise. "Well, you don't want to interfere in this business, for the boy is a bad one all the way through. He was deep enough to get the best of us yesterday; but he won't be so lucky now."
"I tell you to let go of him. He is an acquaintance of mine whom I would trust a good deal sooner than some whom I see now."
"But you are makin' a big mistake, Mr. Reaves, for I saw him makin' off with the valise where our money had been put."
It was evident the bully had considerable respect for the merchant, for he released his hold on Teddy; but was determined that the boy's alleged character should be made known to all in the vicinity.