Ch6-To Jail

CHAPTER SIX To Jail Jack handed the policeman his green bag. "But it's mine, sir!" he tried to explain. "I promise it's mine!" "No, it's mine!" said the kid who'd stolen the bag. "It belonged to my dear, departed father." "It is not yours!" Jack said, furious.

"It is!" the boy shouted. "Take him to jail, Officer!" "Stand back!" the policeman shouted at the kid. "Don't worry, I will be puttin' him in jail. But I might be puttin' you there, too!" "Jail?" said Jack. "But, sir, it really is our bag," said Annie. "Those two kids stole it from us, and my brother just grabbed it back and—" "Quiet!" the policeman said. "Someone stole it —whether it's him or him, or maybe you, we'll soon find out." "But I can tell you what's in it!" said Jack. "I can prove—"

"Quiet! You can make your case to the chief inspector at Scotland Yard!" said the policeman. "Step aside! Let us through!" he yelled at the crowd. As the crowd parted to make a path, Jack saw the tough kid and his friend slip away down the alley. "They're running away, sir!" he said. But the policeman ignored him. "March!" he ordered. Annie grabbed Jack's hand and walked close to him. "I'm sorry," she said, near tears. "I'm so sorry I made us give up our nice clothes." "Don't worry," said Jack. "You didn't know this would happen." He wasn't mad at Annie. He was mad at the boys who had tried to steal his bag.

And he was mad at Merlin, Teddy, and Kathleen! Why had they sent him and Annie to such a terrible place? He didn't care at all about helping crazy Mr. Dickens anymore. He just wished they were back home in Frog Creek. "This way!" the policeman ordered. He gave Jack a little push. Jack and Annie turned out of the alley and headed down the street. They walked through the smothering coal smoke and grimy rain. "Left!" the policeman shouted. Jack and Annie turned left. The crowd still followed them. Jack kept his head down. He couldn't bear to look at the gawkers.

"Hello!" Annie suddenly shouted. "It's us! Remember us?" Jack looked up. Who was Annie shouting to? Standing on the other side of the street was Mr. Dickens. "It's us!" Annie called again. "The chimney sweeps in your study! Remember?" Mr. Dickens scowled, but he started to follow them, walking behind the crowd. "Help us!" Annie shouted. "Please help us!" "Quiet, boy!" the policeman barked at Annie. Mr. Dickens moved briskly toward Jack and Annie, pushing his way through the crowd. "Excuse me, Officer!" he said.

The policeman stopped. He squinted at the small, well-dressed man. "Mr. Dickens? Mr. Charles Dickens?" he said with wonder. Gasps and whispers went up from the crowd. "It's him. It's Charles Dickens, the writer!" the baker said. "Yes, it is I," said Mr. Dickens. "I know these sweeps. What seems to be the problem, Officer?" "The boy stole this bag, sir." The policeman held up the green velvet bag. "When? When did he steal that bag?" asked Mr. Dickens. "Just now, sir. I caught him trying to run off with it," said the policeman.