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.”