“A hundred dollars.”
The girls considered the offer a very large one. Jane asked Mr. Gregg who would receive the money.
“The person or persons responsible for capturing Pickpocket Joe.”
“That was Connie,” said Veve promptly. “She saw him first.”
“No, Veve should have the reward,” returned Connie. “Without her, I never would have had the courage to have trailed Pickpocket Joe. And she brought help just when we needed it.”
“All the Brownies were responsible for capturing Pickpocket Joe,” Veve insisted. “It wasn’t any one person.”
“Yes, his capture was a cooperative affair,” admitted the detective. “As nice an exhibition of team-work as I ever hope to see. All the same, I can’t give the reward to seven girls. How about splitting it evenly between Connie and Veve?”
“Oh, yes!” cried the Brownies.
Veve and Connie, rather dazed at the thought of receiving fifty dollars apiece, did not speak.
“I’ll see that you receive your checks tonight before the circus moves on,” Mr. Gregg said, starting to take Pickpocket Joe away.