“I’ve been robbed! Those fellows took my gold watch! I wondered what they were up to. Stop the car! I must chase them! My watch is worth five hundred dollars!” He would have leaped from the now swiftly moving vehicle and given chase to the two thieves, who were now some distance away, had not Larry, who was watching, put out his hand to detain the old man. “Wait until the car stops,” said Larry, at the same time pulling the bell rope. “You’ll be hurt if you jump off now.” “But the thieves will get away!” cried the man. “Police! Help!” By this time the car was in an uproar, and the conductor and several passengers came running out on the back platform. At the same time the motorman, in response to the signal Larry had given, brought the electric car to a rather sudden stop. “What’s the matter?” asked the conductor. “I’ve been robbed! I must chase the thieves!” panted the old gentleman. “I’ll help you!” exclaimed the man who had been reading the paper. “I saw which way they went!” He started to leave the car, but Larry, who had a plan in mind, had no idea of letting this man, whom he supposed to be a companion of the pickpockets, escape so easily. So the boy slyly put out his foot, and, as the fellow was about to leap from the platform he tripped, and came down on his hands. “Who did that?” he asked. “I did,” replied Larry. “What for? I’d give you a good thrashing only I want to catch those thieves that took this old man’s watch!” By this time quite a crowd had gathered, and the man, as well as Larry and the old gentleman, were hemmed in. At the same time a policeman sauntered up to see what the trouble was, and Larry felt that he could now put his plan into execution. “I guess you won’t have to chase the thieves very far,” the boy said to the chap who had been reading the paper. “Well, I like your impudence! What do you mean?” demanded the fellow. “I think you know something about this robbery,” spoke Larry boldly. “I’ll have you arrested for that!” exclaimed the fellow. “Here, officer, just hold this boy until to-morrow and I’ll make a charge against him. I shouldn’t be surprised if he took the watch himself. I’ll be back in a little while.” “Just wait a minute,” put in the man who had been robbed. “I don’t believe this boy took my watch. You may know something of it. If you do not you’ll not object to being searched.” “Search me? Well, I guess not!” the man cried. “I’m going to chase after those thieves.” “Not so fast, my gay bird,” said the officer, coming up through the crowd. “Let’s see what you have in your pocket, anyhow. I’ve seen you before. You hang out over on the Bowery.” With a quick motion the policeman put his hand in the fellow’s outside coat pocket. “I thought so!” exclaimed the officer. He brought to light a gold watch and chain. “That’s mine!” cried the old gentleman. “You had it all the while, you thief!”