Rocco, in his white apron, was dancing about in the middle of the street, yelling, "Bombs! Police! Da Blacka Hand!" Then, suddenly fearing that the supposed bomb might explode at any moment, he whirled rapidly about and raced down the street away from the stand, in the general direction of the police station. He reached the doorway just as Chief Collig and Detective Smuff were leaving for the train. Panting with fear and excitement, Rocco implored them to save him from the Black Handers who had put a bomb under his fruit stand. "Da bomb, she go 'teek-tock',", he wailed. "She blowa da stand into da little piece!" "A bomb!" exclaimed Chief Collig. "Surely not in Bayport!" "I always thought there was Black Handers around here," said Smuff. "She blowa up da fruit stand! Come queeck!" Chief Collig and Detective Smuff followed Rocco to the corner. Then they peeped around until they could see the deserted fruit stand, with the package on the counter. "You say it goes 'tick-tock'?" "Just lika da clock." "Must be a bomb, all right," said Smuff. "They run by clockwork." "Might go off any minute," observed the chief. "I hate to go near it. Smuff, you go and pour a pail of water over it." "Me?" "Yes, you. You're not afraid, are you?" "No--I'm not afraid," muttered Smuff, mopping his brow. "But I got to think of my wife and family." "Coward!" said the chief. "I'd do it myself, only it wouldn't be right, seein' I'm your superior officer. Bad for discipline." The worthy officers stared at the package on the fruit stand counter, while Rocco danced with impatience. Neither Collig nor Smuff dared approach closer, but they realized something must be done. "Where's Riley?" asked the chief at last. "Out on his beat, around the corner." "Get him." Smuff departed hastily, glad of the chance to get away from the vicinity of the bomb. He was some time in locating Con Riley, and when at last that minion of the law was escorted back to the chief, seven o'clock had come and gone. So had the train. CHAPTER XVI A CONFESSION "Riley!" ordered the chief, "see that package on the counter of the fruit stand. Go and get it and pour a pail of water over it." "Huh?" exclaimed Riley, gaping. "Pour a pail of water over it." Riley took off his helmet and scratched his head. He began to wonder if his chief's brain had been affected by the heat. "Don't stand there staring at me!" snapped Collig. "Hurry up and obey orders." "This is the meanest job I ever got," observed Con Riley. But he ambled across the street, wondering why a crowd of people had collected--for word had quickly spread that a bomb had been found under Rocco's fruit stand--and when he reached the package he inspected it wonderingly. "Mebbe she blowa him all to da bits!" suggested Rocco fearfully. "He has insurance," consoled the chief. "We'll give him a good funeral," observed Smuff.