“Of course not.  The man’s a fool!” were the uncomplimentary remarks of the bystanders, who a minute before had looked upon Joe as undoubtedly guilty.

“You’ve got no case at all,” said Joe’s advocate.  “Let go the boy’s collar, or I shall advise him to charge you with assault and battery.”

“Maybe you one friend of his?” said the German.

“I never saw the boy before in my life,” said the other, “but I don’t want him falsely accused.”

“Somebody must pay for my window.”

“That’s fair; but it must be the boy or man that broke it, not my young friend here, who had no more to do with it than myself.  I sympathize with you, and wish you could catch the scamp that did it.”

At that moment a policeman came up.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“My window was broke—­dat’s what’s de matter.”

“Who broke it?” asked the policeman.

“I caught dat boy standing outside,” pointing to Joe.

“Aha, you young rascal!  I’ve caught you, have I?  I’ve had my eye on you for weeks!”

And Joe, to his dismay, found himself collared anew.

“I’ve only been in the city two days,” said Joe.

“Take him to jail!” exclaimed the German.

And the policeman was about to march off poor Joe, when a voice of authority stayed him.

“Officer, release that boy!” said the sandy-haired man sternly.

“I’ll take you along, too, if you interfere.”

“Release that boy!” repeated the other sternly; “and arrest the German for assault and battery.  I charge him with assaulting this boy!”

“Who are you?” demanded the officer insolently.

“My name is ------, and I am one of the new police commissioners,”
said the sandy-haired man quietly.

Never was there a quicker change from insolence to fawning.

“Oh, I beg your pardon, sir,” said the officer, instantly releasing Joe.  “I didn’t know you.”

“Nor your duty, either, it appears,” said the commissioner sternly.  “Without one word of inquiry into the circumstances, you were about to arrest this boy.  A pretty minister of justice you are!”

“Shall I take this man along, sir?” asked the policeman, quite subdued.

At this suggestion the bulky Teuton hurried into his shop, trembling with alarm.  With great difficulty he concealed himself under the counter.

“You may let him go this time.  He has some excuse for his conduct, having suffered loss by the breaking of his window.  As for you, officer, unless you are more careful in future, you will not long remain a member of the force.”

The crowd disappeared, only Joe and his advocate remaining behind.

“I am grateful to you, sir, for your kindness,” said Joe.  “But for you I should have been carried to the station-house.”

“It is fortunate I came along just as I did.  Are you a stranger in the city?”