Part 41 (2/2)
”On business?”
”Yes, a few days ago you picked up a packet downtown belonging to me--a packet containing some doc.u.ments and letters.”
”Who said they belonged to you?”
”I say so. My name is Jerry Upton, and I dropped the packet in the alleyway where you found it.”
The man stared at our hero.
”Say, is this a game?” he demanded, harshly.
”What do you mean?”
”Are you trying to get me into trouble?”
”No, I am trying to keep you out of trouble,” replied the young oarsman, warmly.
”You say that packet belonged to you?”
”Yes.”
”It didn't have your name on it.”
”No, it--” Our hero stopped short. ”It had Alexander Sloc.u.m's name on it!”
he burst out.
”Exactly.”
”You don't mean to say you delivered that packet to him?” gasped the youth.
”I did--not an hour ago.”
Jerry fell back into a chair and breathed heavily. The packet was gone--into the hands of the enemy!
”The man said it was his package,” said Crazy Jim. ”He gave me a reward of five dollars for returning it to him.”
”It was mine. He wanted to steal it--and now he's done it,” cried Jerry.
”You let him have it but an hour ago?”
”Yes.”
”Where did he go?”
”I don't know.”
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