“Oh, come off!” said the officer, turning to scowl at the boy. “Dat’s all very foine, but it don’t go wid Moike O’Flarrity.”
“It’s truth just the same, and if it hadn’t been for you I’d have knocked him silly,” said Bert, scowling back at his captor. “I was trying to speak to Dollie and he stepped between us. I intended to knock him down and then run away with her.”
“Sure, dat’s just wot I t’ought,” said the officer promptly; “attempting to kidnap a gurrul in broad daylight and right in me beat, the impudent shpalpeen!”
“Well, I guess you can let him go, can’t you, officer?” asked the superintendent coaxingly.
“Not on yer loife!” was the reply. “Wot ’ud the capting say to me? Faith, an’ it’s to the station-house I’ll tak’ him, and let the s’argent dale wid him!”
“And you let that villain escape while you arrested a boy!” cried Marion, half crying. “Oh, my poor little sister! Will I ever find her?”
“Why don’t you ask them at headquarters to send out a general alarm, miss?” asked the superintendent as the officer strode on, half dragging Bert along with him.
Marion’s eyes flew open in unbounded surprise.
“Why, I never thought of that,” she said delightedly, “I came here all alone to look for my sister!”
“Well, you’ve got lots of courage,” remarked the superintendent, staring at her.