interrupted by the actions of Simpkins.

No sooner had he discovered that he had been swindled than he shouted at
the top of his lungs:

"I've been robbed! I've been robbed! They've stolen seven hundred and
fifty dollars from me!"

The loud, excited words and the gesticulations of the grotesquely-garbed
man quickly drew the attention of the passersby, and in a trice the
victims of the swindlers and the policeman were the center of a curious
throng of people.

"I want my money! I want my money!" bellowed Simpkins.

"You stand a fine chance of getting it," returned the policeman, "but I
will do what I can for you. I'll take you around to the police station,
and you can make a complaint to the sergeant and give him a description
of the 'con' men."

As word of the swindle was passed among the crowd, various were the
comments and bits of advice offered.

At first Bob had been too stunned by the discovery that he had been made
an innocent party to the swindle even to think, but as he gradually
recovered from the unpleasant surprise, his one thought was to get away
from Simpkins, to deliver his groceries and get back to the store as
quickly as possible. In order to carry out this plan, he began to worm
his way through the constantly increasing crowd.