“It’ll have to be disinfected before she can wear it,” he said in a low voice to Reggie. “I’ll give it to her, after I soak it in formaldehyde.”
Reggie nodded—and smiled. Perhaps he understood more than Joe thought he did.
“Is that all you want of me?” asked Hogan, looking uneasily about.
“I guess so,” answered one of the officers. “But how did you come to get at the valise?”
“Oh, it was easy. I spotted it in the depot and when that chap wasn’t looking,”—he nodded at Reggie—“I just opened it, took out what I wanted, and slipped out of the station before anyone saw me. You’d never have gotten me, either, if I hadn’t been a dub and told him,” and he scowled at Pop Dutton.
“Well, I’m glad, for my own sake, that you did tell,” spoke Joe.
“Now you’d better clear out,” warned the officer, “and don’t let us find you near the railroad tracks again, or it will be the jug for yours. Vamoose!”
“Wait a minute,” said Pop Dutton, softly. “Have you any money, Hogan?”
“Money! No, how should I get money? I couldn’t pawn that bracelet, or I’d have some though. They all said it wasn’t worth anything.”
“My sister values it as a keepsake,” explained Reggie to Joe in a low voice. “She’ll be awfully glad to get it back.”