“But he was wearing them to-day.”
“In course he was!” said Billy, brightening a little.
“Did you tell him you had—had stolen them?”
“Yaas,” replied the boy, gruffly.
“And he took them?” said I, in astonishment.
“Ain’t you saw them on ’im?” demanded he, evidently disliking this catechism.
“Billy,” said I, “I can’t understand it.”
“You ain’t no call to!” was the polite reply; “’tain’t no concern or yourn.”
“It is my concern if other people are robbed,” I said. “Don’t you know, if I chose, I could fetch a policeman and get you locked up?”
“In course you could! Why don’t yer?”