"It's true the police were chasing me," he admitted reluctantly, "but they mistook me for someone else."
"If you weren't guilty why did you run?" Penny demanded suspiciously. "Why didn't you wait and explain?"
"You can't explain to a cop," the boy told her with a scornful curl of his lip. "You see, I have a juvenile court record--it doesn't amount to much but the police won't give me a chance. I've been trying to go straight, but every move I make they watch me."
A telltale flush crept over the youth's face, but he threw back his head a trifle defiantly.
"It is my real name. I'm no thief either. I admit I've been in a little trouble before this, but today it wasn't my fault. Another fellow and myself were standing in a crowd when an old lady let out a holler that someone had picked her pocketbook. The police came running. They spotted me right off. I hadn't been near the old lady, but she was so excited she was ready to identify anyone. When the cops tried to arrest me on suspicion I took to my heels."
"What sort of juvenile court record do you have?" Penny asked.
"Nothing of consequence. Once I was in a gang that took some apples from a pushcart. It was done in fun, but the judge put me on probation on account of it."
Penny occasionally had visited juvenile court sessions and in many respects the stories she had heard there corresponded to Jerry Barrows' account of his difficulties. Yet in some ways his tale did not ring true. Obviously, he was trying to convey the impression that he had never had a chance and yet he wore expensive clothing. She suspected too that he had been educated in a school fully as good as the one she attended.
"I am sorry, but I must turn you over to the police," she told him. "I don't believe your story. It doesn't hang together."
A strange change came over the boy's face. The last trace of arrogance left him as he turned pleading eyes upon the two girls.
"I lied about my name," he admitted, "but I did it because I want to protect my mother. If she learns that I am in trouble again it will kill her. Please, won't you let me go free?"
Even as the boy spoke, his eyes were roving to the door. It would not be difficult for him to overpower the two girls and escape if he really chose.