In his haste to get away, the lad tripped and fell flat in the muddy water which raced through the underpass.
“Wow!” exclaimed Brad anxiously. “Did he take a tumble!”
The boy was on his feet again almost in an instant.
To the astonishment of Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs, he plunged off through the water, moving as fast as he could.
At the same time, the right hand door of the coupe shot open.
The headlights of Mr. Hatfield’s car revealed the head and shoulders of another occupant of the stalled coupe—a man whom the Cubs recognized as Guy Wentworth, a referee in Juvenile Court.
“Jack, come back here!” he shouted.
The fleeing boy paid no heed.
Mr. Wentworth then sprang from the car and started after the boy. Jack, however, had a good start and the advantage of being more agile.
“Try and get me now!” he taunted. “See you in Juvenile Court!”