Perry nodded.
“He doesn’t look much like a criminal,” he said doubtfully. “He’s sort of nice-looking, Fudge.”
“Lots of the best of ’em are,” was the sententious reply. “Look at—oh, lots of ’em! Remember the crook in that movie play last month, the fellow who forged things?”
“Jim the Penman? Yes, but he was only an actor, Fudge.”
“Makes no difference. Those plays are true to life, Perry. That’s why they got that good-looking chap to act that part, don’t you see? That’s one of the most suspicious things about this fellow. He’s too good-looking, too innocent, don’t you see? He’s probably an awfully clever cracksman, Perry.”
“Maybe,” replied the other hopefully. “What do you suppose he was so interested in the paper for?”
Fudge frowned thoughtfully as he conveyed the last morsel of a generous sandwich to his mouth. “You can’t tell. Maybe he was looking to see if the police were on his track. Or maybe——”
But the bell cut short further speculation and, agreeing to meet after school, they went back to the drudgery of learning. Perry had not had time to ask Fudge what plan of procedure the latter had decided on, a fact which interfered sadly with his work during the final session. As it developed later, however, Fudge had not decided on the best manner in which to continue the relentless pursuit of the criminal. As they made their way to the athletic field Fudge talked a great deal on the subject but, to Perry’s disappointment, didn’t seem to arrive anywhere. It would be necessary, thought Fudge, to do a good deal of watching before they could obtain enough evidence in the case. What they ought to do, he declared, was to shadow the safe-breaker and never let him out of their sight. But this, as Perry pointed out, was rather impractical, considering that they had to spend most of the day in school. Whereupon Fudge reminded him that Saturday was coming.
“We’ll have the whole day then. The only thing I’m afraid of is that he will pull it off before that and make his getaway. And, of course, if we want to get the reward we’ve got to collar him before that.”