It struck him that this was a good opportunity to borrow his fiddle without leave.
When Phil discovered his loss, he determined to run after the thief.
"Give me back my fiddle!" he cried.
But this Tim was in no hurry to do.

As he had longer legs than Phil, the chances were that he would escape.

But some distance ahead he saw one of the blue-coated guardians of the public peace, or, in newsboy parlance, a cop, and saw that Phil could easily prove theft against him, as it would be impossible to pass himself off as a fiddler.

He must get rid of the violin in some way, and the sooner the better.

He threw it into the middle of the street, just as a heavy cart was coming along.