"Go vor policeman! No, don't ye—they may come back again."
Then Kezia's eyes fell upon the mummy, and she cried hysterically, "Thank heaven they ha' spared the King of Egypt!"
CHAPTER XIV
THE GRABBERS
The constable, an exceedingly able man who was expecting to become a sergeant, gave it as his opinion that a thief had been at work. In support of this theory he pointed out certain prints of hob-nailed boots, which upon examination he discovered to be his own. Thereupon he increased his reputation by a shake of the head, and the statement that, even in a small community, mysteries were bound to happen.
Kezia began to mutter about Sidney Brock, who had eaten and drunk in her kitchen, and had endeavoured to entice Nellie into his harem; while Bessie had the effrontery to suggest she had seen two dark shadows, unquestionably substantial, disappearing along the lane in the direction of Black Anchor.
"You can get to London by that road," replied the policeman. "Were they walking or running?" he inquired.
"When I last saw 'em they was running fit to break their necks," said Bessie.
The constable twirled his moustache and smiled in a superior fashion; for he was about to make a point.