"There, he's lifted up his check to look at it, Tom, still keeping his face turned partly away. I believe he's preparing to slip out by passing among those tables on the further side of the restaurant. Shall we try to waylay him, and get a look at his face?"
Tom picked up their own check quickly.
"There he goes, now, and if you follow me I'll fix it so we can rub up against him near the exit. We can't do anything to bring about his arrest but it'll be a little satisfaction to let the slippery rascal understand we're up to his game."
They hurried around, keeping the retreating man under observation. The latter reached the cashier's desk and stood there a brief time paying his account. Then he made for the exit. Tom threw down more than enough change to pay for their meal, after which, with Jack at his heels, he kept after the object of their pursuit.
Just as the door was reached, held open by an employee of the restaurant, the two young fellows passed one on either side of the man who kept his face so well hidden. First Tom jostled his elbow, causing the subject to glance hastily that way, to receive a muttered apology. Then Jack did just the same on the other side.
The man hurried outside where he imme-
