Two Boys of the Battleship: or, For the Honor of Uncle Sam. Webster Frank V.

crowd pressed around to hear what was going on.

      “Sure – all we had,” and Frank spoke a little bitterly.

      “Where did it happen?”

      “In the aquarium. The men ran over here. One went up to take the train. Maybe we can catch him.”

      “Maybe,” agreed the officer. “We’ll have a try. Come on – sprint!”

      He himself led the way up the elevated stairs, followed by Frank, Ned and some curious ones.

      But the train had pulled out, and save for the ticket-chopper there was no one on the platform.

      “Do you see him?” demanded the officer, rather needlessly.

      “No,” answered Frank. “He’s gone all right. And I guess there’s no use chasing after the other one.”

      “Give me a description of them,” suggested the policeman, “and I’ll report it. The detectives will do what they can, but I guess I needn’t tell you there isn’t much chance,” went on the officer. He evidently regarded Frank and Ned as New York lads, and indeed they had the smart appearance of those who are familiar with the metropolis.

      “No, I guess we can score that up to profit and loss,” said Frank, gloomily.

      “At any rate, give me your names and addresses,” suggested the policeman. “I’ll have to make a report of it to the station,” and he took out notebook and pencil.

      Most of the crowd had left the elevated station now, seeing no further chance for excitement, and standing on the platform, Frank gave an account of the affair, telling how, by the clever ruse of a pretended quarrel, the men had so engaged the attention of his brother and himself that they never noticed the trained and nimble fingers of the pickpockets taking the watch and money.

      “Yes, it is an old trick,” the policeman said. “It’s often been worked before. I’ll go back to the aquarium with you and see if any of the attendants noticed the two men, so I can get a description of them.”

      “One of the officers inside ordered them out when they seemed likely to fight,” proffered Ned.

      “I’ll have a talk with him,” decided the policeman. But he could get nothing more than a general description of the two thieves, and from that he did not recognize them as any well-known criminals.