4.68	A NGEL    PAVEMENT
"At the North London!" Mr. Smeeth stopped, and
gaped at him. "Do you mean the Police Court?"
"That's right. Case comes on on Tuesday, I think.
What, didn't you know?"
''No, of course, I didn't know/' cried Mr. Smeeth in
horrified amazement. "Do you mean-my boy George?"
"Here, steady, steady, Mr. Smeeth! We're not charg-
ing him. He's only up as a witness."
Mr. Smeeth breathed again, but he was still puzzled
and worried, and the sergeant, noticing this, began to
explain.
"I don't know why he's not told you. It's one of these
car stealing jobs. We're always getting 'em now. What
with cars running over people and then skipping off, and
cars in these smash-and-grab outfits, and cars being lost
and pinched—coo!-we get a proper packet of cars! I
don't know what the Force did in the old horse traffic
days. 'Owever, this is one of the car stealing jobs, and
by a bit o' luck and judgment, we traced this particular
car to that garage where your lad's been working lately.
Chap o' the name of Barrett runs it, and between you
and me, we've had an eye on him for some time. Well,
he bought this car—a good car, nearly new; I don't re-
member the make, but it was a good car, worth money-
for fifteen quid. He doesn't deny it. Now we're taking
the line that he bought that car knowing it to be stolen,
not the property o' the chap that offered it to him. It's
our belief he's done this before, and a good many times,
too. As I say, we've had an eye on him. If he's not a
wrong 'un, I give it up. Whether we'll get him this time
or not, I don't know. I wasn't on the case myself. But
that fifteen quid'll take a bit of explaining. They'll be
saying they get cars given 'em soon."