However, he reached the office just in time. He had to put in another busy day. In the afternoon he was sent to a hall uptown, where a meeting was in progress and where one of the _Leader_ reporters was on an assignment. Larry had to bring back some copy, but as the meeting was not very important only one trip was necessary. The car Larry rode on in coming back to the office was quite crowded, and he stood on the rear platform. Near him were several rather flashily dressed young men, who were laughing and joking in loud tones. Occasionally they would playfully shove one another. At first Larry paid no attention to them, but finally he noticed that the young men seemed to be directing their attentions to an elderly gentleman who stood in the corner, smoking a cigar. He was well dressed, and his vest was adorned with a heavy gold watch chain. Suddenly one of the young men gave his companion such a hard push as to send him violently against the elderly gentleman. The latter’s face flushed. “Can’t you chaps stand up straight?” he demanded. The one who had collided with him seemed to be unable to regain his balance for a moment, and leaned heavily against the old man. Finally, however, he straightened up. Then, turning to the elderly gentleman, and making a bow as he removed his hat he said: “I humbly beg your pardon, sir. I was not aware that I had hurt you. It was my companion’s fault. I am sure he’ll apologize also.” “Certainly, certainly,” exclaimed the other somewhat flippantly. “It was all my fault, I do assure you, and I am very sorry.” “That’s all right,” said the elderly man, much mollified at the polite manner of the young men. “I suppose it was an accident. The car sometimes lurches considerably.” “No, no, it was not an accident, it was all my fault, and I insist on apologizing,” went on the man who had first spoken. “I shall feel offended if you do not let me apologize.” All this while Larry noticed that the young man’s hands seemed to be busy in the neighborhood of the old gentleman’s watch chain. His companion was crowding close to the latter, while a third man, who did not seem to be in company of the other two, but who was apparently engaged in reading a newspaper, held the sheet close under the elderly man’s chin. “Then I’ll accept your apology,” the gentleman remarked, in good humor again. “By Jove! This is my street!” the first young man exclaimed suddenly, as he made a jump from the still moving car. “And mine also,” remarked his companion. Larry’s suspicions were aroused, particularly as the two men had seemed to be handing something to the one who was so industriously reading the paper. Still he did not like to say anything, though he was almost certain that the men were pickpockets. He had heard Mr. Newton describe how such criminals worked on street cars. Suddenly the elderly gentleman put his hand into his pocket and gave a cry: