"Wot about that tanner? That's wot
I've come for."
"You be off," I ses, starting to shut the wicket. "You won't get no
tanner out of me."
"All right," he ses, "I shall stand here and go on ringing the bell till
you pay up, that's all."
He gave it another tug, and the policeman instead of locking 'im up for
it stood there laughing.
I gave 'im the tanner. It was no use standing there arguing over a
tanner, with a purse of twelve quid waiting for me in the dock, but I
told 'im wot people thought of 'im.
"Arf a second, watchman," ses the policeman, as I started to shut the
wicket agin. "You didn't see anything of that pickpocket, did you?"
"I did not," I ses.
"'Cos this gentleman thought he might 'ave come in here," ses the
policeman.
"'Ow could he 'ave come in here without me knowing it?" I ses, firing
up.
"Easy," ses the landlord, "and stole your boots into the bargain!"
"He might 'ave come when your back was turned," ses the policeman, "and
if so, he might be 'iding there now.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223