"And, having seen him come in
here some time ago, I now ask you formally whether you have seen him
too, and I call upon you to show me where he's hiding." He thrust one
huge foot forward and held his notebook open with the pencil ready.
"Anything you say will be used against you later, remember. You must
all be witnesses."
"_If_ you find him," put in Uncle Felix dryly.
"_When_ I find him," said the other. And his eye wandered over to the
tarpaulin that was spread out beside the rubbish-heap. For it had
suddenly moved.
Everybody had seen that movement. There was no disguising it. Feeling
uncomfortable the Tramp had shifted his position. He probably wanted
air.
"I saw it move," the Policeman growled, moving a step towards the
rubbish-heap. "He's under there all right enough, and the sooner he
comes out the better for him. That's all I've got to say."
It was a most disagreeable and awkward moment. No one knew quite what
was best to do. Maria turned her eyes as innocently upon the tarpaulin
as she could manage, but it was obvious what she was really looking
at. Her brother held his breath and stared, expecting a pistol might
appear and some one be shot dead with a marvellous aim, struck
absolutely in the mathematical centre of the heart.
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