e great metropolitan afternoon papers, and as the burly policeman dragged the pathetic figure of the

g more about those 'con' men, and probably not as much, as you do. It's a shame to lock him

dn't be so keen to champion this boy. The old man has been mixed up in many a questionable transaction, and I shouldn't be surprised if it turned out that

"and I don't care. If he is mixed up in questionable dealings, that doesn't mean that the boy is necessa

t you can't judge criminals by their faces," snarled the sergeant, and as

mpion, "but I am going to prove the boy's

o, the reporter lef

b's guilt, they nevertheless experienced a feeling of uneasiness, lest Foster might after all be right, and they were

s for years. He's as crooked as they make them, and he

necessity of investigating the story further, the reporters agreed t

ble for a person without influence or money to obtain justice, was strong, and his he

d, I shall be the most surprised man in New York," he said to himself, "an

dus, but as he entered and caught sight of an old, gray-haired man, with a face in which craftiness

er, walking up to the counter, behin

rietor of the store, adding as he

do you

e a boy working for you by

boys, and for laziness he can't be beaten. Here I sent him to deliver some goods

hich the old man spoke that Foste

de just now. However, that is neither here nor t

big enough to be of

ood boy,

ering an order that should not have taken him more than fifteen minutes at t

his predicament until he had obtained more information ab

want to know whether or not he

delay-although I never accept his excuses. It isn't the way to bring up a boy. But he doesn't steal, and I do

question before

r one until you tell me why you are taking such pains to find

inquisitor, that Foster realized it would be necessary to explain Bob's predicament were he to

f Bob had gone about his business and delivered the order, instead of being tempted by the offer of a dollar, he wouldn't have go

to do anything to help him out of his trouble?" exclaim

hrug of his shoulders

e a lawyer, or even to bail him out. Besides,

money of his own?"

to tell me about Bob in the hope that I will hire you, you might as well go back t

the grocer incensed F

ply from a desire to see the boy get fair treatment, and if I were his guardian, whether h

to stay in the store here, and I d

d. If you have had the care of him for so long, what you could say i

an tremble, as though in fear, and what the sergeant had said about Dardus recurred to him, a

to look after the store. But pe

His case will come up i

uences. I always told him he shouldn't linger over de

rs, and, realizing that he was only wasting time in trying to pe

o do anything to a

it exactly that way. I'll see if

and with this enigmatical remark, the very suggestiveness of which caused an expression of