Based on some information the author provides regarding Mrs. Jones, it seems unlikely that Roger would have had much success in running away. The reader is aware that Mrs. Jones is a "large woman." She has no trouble picking him up and holding on to him. When Roger begins to struggle, she holds him and drags him to her home. Once inside, Roger has a couple of opportunities to run. However, he chooses to stay. Roger even asks Mrs. Jones if she needs him to go to the store. At this point, Roger feels accountable to Mrs. Jones, and does not wish to let her down by running. If Roger did manage to escape, and no bystanders chose to intervene, he would most likely be able to avoid capture by Mrs. Jones. Although she proves to be stronger, he could probably run faster.
Given what we know about Luella, it's likely that she would've chased after Roger if he'd tried to run off. Failing that, she probably would've called the police, for Luella's a pretty formidable woman who won't take any nonsense from anyone, especially not a common purse-snatcher like Roger.
Also, if Roger had run off when Luella's back was turned when they were together at her house, then she would've been even more furious than if he'd scampered off right after she caught him stealing her pocketbook. Luella would understandably have felt that her hospitality and kindness towards Roger was being abused. She didn't have to take Roger home with her; she could've frogmarched him to the nearest police station and left it at that. But she didn't. Instead, she took pity on the young hoodlum, took him home with her, and gave him a bite to eat. However, there are limits to Luella's kindness, and those limits would have been pushed to the absolute limit if Roger had decided to show her a clean pair of heels.
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