"How would you act if you were riding up with that bunch to start a real sentence, eh? Well kid, get yourself in the state of mind that it is real and act accordingly." Skippy did just that. About six o'clock a court attendant led him out to a closed car. Four boys ranging from about his own age to seventeen years sat inside and eyed him sullenly as he crowded his slim body among them to make the fifth passenger on the back seat. Two detectives followed and took the chairs before them; another detective sat ahead on the seat beside the driver. "Well, if it ain't John Doe--the kid hisself!" a hoarse voice whispered beside him. Skippy looked up and saw a drooping mouth and black eyes almost too bright--Nickie Fallon. Despite an inward shudder, he nodded and smiled. "That's me," he said simply. "Got enough room?" "Nah, but that's all jake. Might's well get used to crowdin'." Then, after a pause: "Say, you John Doe, on the level?" Skippy gave a sidelong glance at the detectives to see if they noted this whispered conversation between Nickie Fallon and himself. Apparently they didn't, and he gave the boy another smile. "Anyways, they slipped you four years, eh? Three years less'n me." There was another pause after which Fallon whispered, "They ain't keepin' me two days if I can take it on the lam. How about you, kid?" Skippy nodded again, feeling rather foolish as he did so. However, he could think of no other course to pursue, and instinct prompted him to hold his tongue until he was sure of himself. "Ain't the gabby kind, eh?" said the other. "Well, that's the kinda pal I like. Say, if they don't put us near each other up there, I'll raise the dust--see? I wanta pal like you." Skippy stirred uneasily. Was Nickie Fallon going to be an unlooked-for factor in this strange play? CHAPTER V A FRIENDLY FACE The Delafield Reform School was situated not far from the New Jersey state line. Therefore, the route over which the boys were taken was through a part of northeastern New Jersey, first crossing the great bridge which bears the magic name of George Washington. It was upon entering the vast span that Nickie Fallon made known to Skippy his resolve. After that he lapsed into a long silence, looking past his new-found pal and out upon the gleaming concrete lanes that flanked them on both sides. His too-bright eyes seemed to roam through space and for a moment his gaze rested on the giant cables that stretched between sky and water like monstrous birds poised for flight. Skippy had no doubt but that Nickie's thoughts were also on flight. The detectives, however, seemed not to be cognizant of it, for they were laughing and talking in low tones and apparently easy in mind about the safety of their charges.