Out in Polk Street the cable cars were nearly blocked and were bunting a way slowly through the throng with clanging bells.

Every window had its group.

And as Trina and the harness-maker tried to force the way from the door of the junk shop the throng suddenly parted right and left before the passage of two blue-coated policemen who clove a passage through the press, working their elbows energetically.

They were accompanied by a third man in citizen's clothes.
Heise and Trina went back into the kitchen with the two policemen, the third man in citizen's clothes cleared the intruders from the front room of the junk shop and kept the crowd back, his arm across the open door.
"Whew!" whistled one of the officers as they came out into the kitchen, "cutting scrape?
By George! SOMEBODY'S been using his knife all right." He turned to the other officer.

"Better get the wagon.