He left his hiding place and went running toward the back yard. There was no one there, not even Joe. For a moment his heart stood still. Then he remembered that he and Joe had played in the barn that morning. Maybe Joe was afraid of the cloud and had gone to the barn. He unlatched the lot gate, swung it heavily open, and went into the high, wide hall. Joe was sitting on the ladder that led up into the loft.
"Heh!" said Tommy.
Joe looked at him strangely.
"Guess who's out there now!" cried Tommy, out of breath. "Bob Kelley. He's comin' up the walk!"
"Who's he?"
"Pleaseman!"
Joe gasped.
"Cop?"
"Yes, cop!" said Tommy, proud that they had such things in the country as well as in town. "I'll go an' fin' out what he wants. You stay here. I'll come back an' tell you. Come on, F'ank!"