Part 55 (1/2)
”I cannot.”
”Make a guess.”
”Somebody from Glen Arbor?”
”No.”
”A city friend, perhaps?”
”Exactly.”
”Well, what are you going to do now?”
”Rather, let me ask you what you are going to do?” returned Ralph, warmly.
He was much relieved just then to see Mickety across the way, with a policeman beside him.
”I?”
”Exactly. You tried your best to get me out of the way,” went on Ralph, in rather a loud voice. ”And now you have failed, I want to know what your next move is going to be.”
”Hush, not so loud!” cried Martin Thomas in alarm. ”Never mind what I am going to do.”
”Will you tell me why you tried to take my life?”
”Hang it, boy, don't talk so loud!”
”Then tell me your object.”
”I won't.”
”You will have to.”
”What's that, boy?”
”I say you will have to.”
”Nonsense. Get out of my way. I am in a hurry.”
Martin Thomas tried to brush past Ralph, but the boy caught him by the arm.
”Let go of me, boy, unless you want me to do something desperate. You escaped me three times, but----”
Martin Thomas broke off short, and his face turned a sickly green. He had just caught sight of the policeman and Mickety, who were dodging behind him.
”Why--er----” he began.
”Dat's der feller, officer!” cried out Mickety. ”Didn't yer hear wot he said?”
”I did,” replied the policeman.