“Pickpocket Joe! Veve and I saw him only a minute ago.”
The detective whirled quickly around. “Where?” he demanded. “Do you see him now?”
“No, he melted into the crowd.”
“Then I’ll not have much chance of catching him,” said the detective regretfully. “I wonder if the man you saw really was Pickpocket Joe.”
“It looked exactly like him except for the color of his suit,” insisted Connie.
“The man might have left the coach from the other side of the train,” Mr. Gregg said thoughtfully. “But I’m inclined to think you were mistaken.”
Connie said no more about the matter. However, she did not believe she was wrong in her identification. She determined to watch the crowd for the man. Perhaps she would see him later on the circus grounds.
After the train had pulled out, Mr. Gregg escorted the girls into the station. He asked the agent if there were any telegrams for him.
“Three,” replied the man. He gave the detective the yellow envelopes.
Pressing closer, Connie and Veve waited anxiously as the detective ripped open the first message.