bootblacks into
the street and catch a ride.

When he entered Mrs. Ricket's house he found Saunders and several others
already there. Dick Ferris was in the group in the front parlor, and at
a glance Hal saw that something unusual was going on.

He nodded pleasantly, and was about to pass up the stairs when Mrs.
Ricket called him back.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Mr. Saunders' room has been robbed!" burst out the woman.

"What!" exclaimed Hal. "Was there much taken?"

"A pair of cuff-buttons, a gold watch-chain and my pocket-book with
fourteen dollars in it," replied Saunders.

"It's too bad," sobbed Mrs. Ricket. "I would not have had that happen in
my house for a hundred dollars. I wonder who could have done it?"

Suddenly Dick Ferris pulled Saunders aside, and whispered something into
his ear.

The dry-goods clerk looked astonished.

"You don't mean it!" he gasped.

"I do," replied Ferris.

Saunders advanced toward Hal.

"Were you in my room this morning after I left?" he asked, sharply.

"Me?" returned Hal, with a start. "No."

"Dick says you were, and he thinks you are the thief," continued
Saunders.

CHAPTER XI.

FOR AND AGAINST.

Saunders was excited or he would not have spoken so hastily or so
bluntly.

Hal grew very pale, and clenched his hands.

"You say I entered Mr. Saunders' room?" he demanded, turning to Ferris.

"I do," replied the tall boy.

He had hardly spoken, when Hal strode over with such a determined air
that Ferris was forced to beat a retreat until he backed up against a
side table.

"You know you are saying what isn't so," said Hal, in a low voice. "And
I want you to take it back."

"I--I am telling the truth," stammered Ferris.

"It is false. It is more likely that you entered Mr. Saunders' room
yourself."

"When did you see Carson enter my room?" put in the dry-goods clerk.

"Just as I was getting ready to come down."

"Why didn't you speak of it before?" asked Mrs. Ricket.

"I thought he had gone in to see Tom."

"There is not a word of truth in what he says, and he knows it," said
Hal, calmly. "It is merely a scheme to get me into trouble because he
does not like me."

"No scheme about it," blustered Ferris. "If I were you I'd search his
room."

"If the stolen things are there, Ferris put them there," added Hal,
quickly.

"Mean to say I'm a thief?" roared Ferris, turning red in the face.

"I do."

"Take care, or I'll give you a sound t