“Any way you like, officer,” said the bearded man suavely, “anything that you say, I’ll agree to.”
“Air yer willin’ ter be searched?”
“Certainly. But not here in the public street.”
“All right, then; at the calaboose, ef that’ll suit yer better.”
“It will. Let’s proceed there,” said the man, with a sidelong look at the boys, who began to wonder at his assurance.
Followed by a small crowd, Si and his prisoner led the way to the “calaboose,” a small, red-brick structure on a side street not far from the station. The boys waited eagerly outside, while within the walls of Si’s fortress the search went on. Before long, the constable emerged with an angry face, and very red. The stranger, cool and smiling, was beside him.
“What kind uv an April fool joke is this?” demanded Si loudly, while the boys, and the townspeople, who had been attracted by curiosity, looked at him in astonishment.
“You boys ain’t tole me the truth,” he went on, waxing more furious.
“You—you haven’t found the wallet?” demanded Merritt. “Why, I distinctly felt him snatch it from my hand.”
“Wall, it ain’t on him.”