When this story opens, Tom was more interested in Mr. Barcoe
Jenks than in any one else, and was wondering what he wanted to
see him about. The young inventor could not quite understand how
Mr. Track, the jeweler, could come back with a lad he suspected
of being a thief, when the person who had acted so suspiciously,
and who had knocked on the glass, was the queer man, Mr. Jenks.
"Yes, Tom I caught him," the jeweler went on. "I chased after
him, and nabbed him. It was hard work, too, for I'm not a good
runner. Now, you little rascal, tell me why you tried to rob my
store?" and the diamond merchant shook the lad roughly.
"I--I didn't try to rob your store," was the timid answer.
"Well, perhaps you didn't, exactly, but your confederates did.
Why did you rap on the glass, and why were you staring in so
intently?"
"I wasn't lookin' in."
"Well, if it wasn't you, it was some one just like you. But why
did you run when I raced down the street?"
"I--I don't know," and the lad began to snivel. "I--I jest ran--that's
all--'cause I see everybody else runnin', an' I thought
there was a fire."
"Ha! That's a likely story! You ran because you are guilty! I'm
going to hand you over to the police."
"Did he get anything, Mr. Track?" asked one of the men who had
joined the jeweler in the chase.
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