"I would like to beat him, the little wretch!" he said to
himself, angrily. "If I had not been too late for the boat, I
would have easily caught him."
It never occurred to Pietro that Phil might have taken the cars
for a more distant point, as he actually did. The only thing he
could think of, for he was not willing to give up the pursuit,
was to go back. He remained in Jersey City all day, wandering
about the streets, peering here and there; but he did not find
Phil, for a very good reason.
The padrone awaited his report at night with some impatience.
Phil was one of the smartest boys he had, and he had no mind to
lose him.
"Did you find him, Pietro?" he asked as soon as his nephew
entered his presence.
"I saw him," said Pietro.
"Then why did you not bring him back?"
Pietro explained the reason. His uncle listened attentively.
"Pietro, you are a fool," he said, at length.
"Why am I a fool?" asked Pietro, sullenly.
"Because you sought Filippo where he is not."
"Where is he?"
"He did not stop in Jersey City. He went farther. He knew that
you were on his track. Did you ask at the station if such a boy
bought a ticket?"
"I did not think of it.
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