"No, sir. Why?"
"A man of that description has stolen a sum of money from a dry-goods store in the town. He was seen running in this direction. We thought you might have seen him."
"No, sir; I have seen nothing of such a man."
Bob little dreamed that the thief in question was concealed at that moment within twenty-five feet of where he was sitting.
CHAPTER XXV. CLIP'S SECRET MISSION.
The man who had addressed Bob eyed him sharply on receiving his negative answer.
"It is a pretty serious thing to connive at the escape of a criminal," he said.
"That remark does not affect me, sir. I know nothing of any criminal. If I had seen him I would tell you."