Part 31 (2/2)

The gentleman nervously felt to see if his money and watch were safe.

Several others heard the words, and they gathered around Jerry.

”Who robbed you?”

”How much did you have?”

”Why didn't you hold the thief?”

Before Jerry could answer any of the questions a policeman came forward and touched him on the shoulder.

”Are you the boy said he was robbed?”

”Yes, sir.”

”What were you robbed of?”

”A pocket-book containing nearly thirty dollars.”

”Did you see the thief?”

”I believe it was a man I was walking with. He called himself Wakefield Smith.”

The policeman questioned Jerry closely, and then took a good look around for the individual. Later on, boy and officer walked to Mrs. Price's boarding-house.

Here it was learned that Mr. Wakefield Smith had not paid any board money, giving as an excuse that he had nothing less than a one-hundred-dollar bill and that he would pay in the morning. It also came to light that he had walked out with Mrs. Price's silver-handled umbrella, worth eight dollars.

”The villain!” she cried. ”I hope the police catch him!”

”You don't wish it more than I do,” returned the young oarsman, dolefully.

”He took my last dollar.”

Acting on the policeman's advice, Jerry walked around to the nearest precinct station and made a complaint, giving the best description of Mr.

Wakefield Smith he could.

”We will do our best to capture him,” said the captain in charge, and with this promise the youth had to be content.

My readers can imagine our hero did not spend a restful night. He lay awake for several hours speculating on the turn affairs had taken. His board was paid for a week, but that was all. He did not even have money to pay car fare back to Lakeview.

”I wonder what mother and father would say if they knew?” he thought. ”I won't let them know until there's nothing else to do.”

Jerry arose early the next day and got breakfast before any of the other boarders.

”I must find something to do without delay,” he explained to Mrs Price. ”A fellow without a dollar in his pocket can't afford to remain idle.”

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