t he was doing. "Not badly
managed," thought Evan. Evan could only guess that he was turning to
the specified pages and slipping out the bills. There was one action
that Evan recognised from the movement of the shoulders. He had
slipped his hand in his inner breast pocket.

"He's got them now," thought Evan.

Sure enough the youth presently let the book fall on the table and
wiped his face with his handkerchief.

"I bet his little heart is beating," thought Evan. Evan's was.

The youth wasted no further time in making believe to read his books.
Letting them lie on the table he got up and started to walk out at a
leisurely pace. Evan followed him, knowing of course that the first
time the youth turned his head he must discover him, but it did not
matter much now. Their footsteps fell noiselessly on the thick rubber
matting of the reading-room.

Half-way down the great room the youth did turn, and saw Evan behind
him. A spasm passed over the thin little face and his teeth showed
momentarily. One could fancy how sharply he caught his breath. He
increased his pace a little, but by no means ran out of the room. He
had his nerves under pretty good control. Evan made no effort to
overtake him in the reading-room. He hated to make an uproar there.

The youth went soberly down the two flights of the great stairway with
Evan as soberly at his heels. He did not look around again. To have
refrained from doing so indicated no little strength of will. Crossing
the entrance hall, they passed out the main entrance and down the
sweeping steps to Fifth Avenue.

"He'll make a break to escape in the crowd," thought Evan.

On the little esplanade between the two flights of steps Evan sprang
across the space that separated them and laid a heavy hand on the
youth's shoulder.

He shrank away with a terrified gasp. "What do you want?" he demanded.

"You come with me," said Evan, sternly.

"I won't! You've no right to lay hands on me!"

"You come along," said Evan, "or I'll call the policeman yonder."

He marched him down the remaining steps. The boy offered no
resistance. For that matter he would have stood but a small chance
against the muscular Evan. The passers-by began to stop and stare and
shove and ask what was the matter.

Evan greatly desired to avoid a street disturbance. Steering his
captive across the pavement to the curb, he hailed the first passing
taxicab and bundled the unresisting youth ins