“I’ll tell you what,” continued the owner, “just to square myself, I’ll throw in one hundred dollars.”
Silence.
“Five hundred!”
“You’re going out of business,” announced Tom. “Save your breath!”
“One thousand dollars!”
“One more word,” warned Bill, “and I won’t be responsible for my action. Keep still.”
Defeated, the man depicted his silent disdain.
A moment later Fred and the police arrived. The police captain in charge wanted the boys to go along to press the charge, but Tom, upon quickly satisfying the officer of their intentions of doing so the next day—especially establishing that Tom was the son of Jacob Jukes, the multimillionaire—were at liberty to proceed as they pleased.
“Explanations are now in order.”
“Correct,” replied Tom. “Let me first introduce Fred Strong, an old-time friend of mine. Bill Raynor, one of the finest boys in the world!”