"
The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs
it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the
meantime.
"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it
ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago."
"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging
himself out of the car, "give them to me or----"
"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had
received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its
effects.
"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously,
although he knew very well.
"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them."
"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp.
"Naw!" echoed the other.
"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you."
The warning came from old Mr. Harding.
"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like."
The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to
be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the
tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his
distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan.
This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65