many boys wandering around that it was hard to keep track of them. Julian did not know that he was being watched. He had been watched for a long time, and the manager saw that Julian was not taking things and stopped watching him. But when he began to have success as a grabber the salesgirls learned to keep on the lookout for him. They knew who he was; a Lantenengo Street kid, who did not have to steal. Several of them reported him to the manager, who thereafter forgot all about the other kids in order to keep his eye on Julian. One day after school the gang decided to have a Five-Finger Grab, and they all trooped down to Kresge s. When they entered the store a bell rang, but they paid no attention to it; bells were always ringing in the store signals to cash girls, signals to the assistant managers and floor walkers and stock boys. Bells were always ringing. Julian had announced beforehand that he would get a flashlight for Butch, in return for which Butch was going to steal a large hunk of summer sausage from the Doerflinger meat market. Not just an ordinary slice, that he could get for the asking, but a hunk at least a foot long. The flashlight came as a case, battery, and lamp: ten cents for each part, thirty cents altogether. The electrical supplies counter was very near the front door, and Julian went right to it. The girl standing in front of the counter the clerks stood in front of counters that were against the walls asked him what he wanted, and he said he was only waiting for a friend who had gone to another part of the store. She looked at him without saying anything and kept looking at him. Well, he was not going to let her scare him, and he could outsmart her. He took out a package of Ziras, put one in his mouth, and pretended to reach in his pocket for a match, but all the cigarettes dropped to the floor, as Julian planned. The girl automatically leaned over, which was more than Julian had counted on he merely wanted to distract her. He too leaned over, and as he did his right hand reached over the counter and he had the flashlight in his pocket before he began to pick up the cigarettes. No smoking in here, the girl said. Who said so? said Julian, and at that moment his arm was grabbed tight. I saw you, you little thief! It was the manager. I saw you take that flashlight. Miss Loftus, go get the policeman.
Yes, sir, said the girl. I ll show you. I ll fix your feet for you, said the manager. Julian tried to reach in his pocket to get rid of the flashlight. Oh, no you don t, said Mr. Jewett. That flashlight stays right in your pocket till the policeman comes. I ll put a stop to this. Little highbrow, eh? Doctor English s son. Lantenengo Street boy. Well.
Quickly there was a crowd around, and some of the fellows were in the crowd. They were frightened, and a couple of them left, which gave Julian a sinking feeling but he did not blame them, and he was glad to see that Butch and Carter stayed. Go on away, you people, said Mr. Jewett. I ll settle this. The group slowly moved away, and that was the chance Butch had been waiting for. He moved closer to Jewett and said: What did he do, Mister?
Never you mind what he did. You known damn well what he did, said Jewett. Butch kicked Jewett square in the shin and ran, and so did Julian. They got out of the store and ran to the left, knowing that Leffler, the policeman, would be coming from the squire s office, at the right. They ran down one street, up another, down another, until they came to the railroad freight yards. Jesus, I never ran so much in all my life yet, said Butch. Me either, said Julian. It s good I gave him a kick, said Butch. You bet. If you didn’t I d be there yet. What would they do?
I do know. Send you to reformatory, I guess. I guess me too now maybe, said Butch. Gee, said Julian. What ll we do now? said Butch. Gee. I do know. What should we?
Well, if you go home they know who you are at the store so if you go home they ll have the cop, Leffler, he’ll wait there for you.
Do you think they will? said Julian. Sure. He’ll arrest you and the squire