He was there to kidnap a child and a dog what he said was his; but
I'll bet they wasn't--and that's another thing against him.
Of course he'd move on as soon as he'd got the kid, but he can't have
got so very far with that old horse of his--he looked as if he'd drop
dead if he was made to go another mile."
The policeman stayed to see the train depart with the crowd safely
packed inside it, then turned away with Bob. He was as anxious as
Bob himself to follow up the case. Policemen did not get much chance
in little country places, and promotion came slowly. "What was he
giving you six shillings for?" he asked, as Bob and he trudged up the
hill from the station.
Bob looked foolish. "Oh--for--for showing him the way," he
stammered.
The policeman looked at him sharply. "What way?" he asked.
"To--to Woodend Lane," he answered, shortly, wondering distractedly
how he could avoid giving true explanations; but the policeman, to
his relief, did not press the matter further, and whatever his
thoughts were, he kept them to himself.
Presently he asked, casually, "Where was the child he wanted to get
hold of? In Woodend Lane?"
"Yes--I mean I dunno. I don't know nothing about it."
"I only asked, 'cause we've had word to keep a look-out for a man,
probably with a caravan, who has stolen a child and a dog from
Wood--"
"Why, look, what's that over there?" interrupted Bob, in sudden
excitement.
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