“He stood shoost in front of it,” said the German.
“If he had broken it, he would have run away. Didn’t that occur to you?”
“Some one broke mine window,” said the German.
“Of course; but a boy who threw a stone must do so from a distance, and he wouldn’t be likely to run up at once to the broken window.”
“Of course not. The man’s a fool!” were the uncomplimentary remarks of the bystanders, who a minute before had looked upon Joe as undoubtedly guilty.
“You’ve got no case at all,” said Joe’s advocate. “Let go the boy’s collar, or I shall advise him to charge you with assault and battery.”
“Maybe you one friend of his?” said the German.
“I never saw the boy before in my life,” said the other, “but I don’t want him falsely accused.”
“Somebody must pay for my window.”
“That’s fair; but it must be the boy or man that broke it, not my young friend here, who had no more to do with it than myself. I sympathize with you, and wish you could catch the scamp that did it.”