to his pocket.
About half an hour later he found himself on the leading retail street
in Cincinnati. In front of him walked a lady, fashionably attired,
holding a mother-of-pearl portemonnaie carelessly in her hand. He
brushed by her, and at the same moment the pocketbook was snatched from
her hand.

The lady screamed, and instinctively clutched Vincent by the arm.

"This man has robbed me, I think," she said. The crowd began to gather
about Vincent, and he saw that he was cornered. Among the crowd,
unluckily for himself, was Tom. By a skilful movement Vincent thrust the
portemonnaie into our hero's pocket.

"You are mistaken, madam," he said coolly; "I saw that boy take your
money."

Instantly two men seized Tom.

"Search him," said Vincent, "and see it I am not right."

The portemonnaie was taken from Tom's pocket, amid the hootings of the
crowd.

"So young, and yet so wicked!" said the lady regretfully.

"I didn't take the money, madam," protested Tom, his face scarlet with
surprise and mortification.

"Don't believe him, ma'am. I saw him take it," said Vincent virtuously.

Poor Tom looked from one to another; but all faces were unfriendly. It
was a critical time for him.

CHAPTER XVII.

TOM'S ARREST.

To one who is scrupulously honest a sudden charge of dishonesty is
almost overwhelming. Now, Tom was honest, not so much because he had
been taught that honesty was a virtue, as by temperament and instinct.
Yet here he saw himself surrounded by hostile faces, for a crowd soon
collected. Not one believed in his innocence, not even the lady, who
thought it was such a pity that he was "so young and yet so wicked."

"Will somebody call a policeman?" asked Vincent.

A policeman soon made his appearance. He was a stout, burly man, and
pushed his way through the crowd without ceremony.

"What's the row?" he inquired.

"This boy has picked a lady's pocket," exclaimed Vincent.

The officer placed his hand roughly on Tom's shoulder.

"You were a little too smart, young feller!" said he. "You must come
along with me."

"I didn't take the money," protested Tom, pale, but in a firm voice.

"That's too thin," said Vincent, with a sneer.

"Yes, it's too thin," repeated two or three in the crowd.

"It's true," said Tom.

"Perhaps you'll tell us how the money came in your pocket," suggested a
bystander.

"That man put it in," answered Tom, indicating Vincent.

The latter shrugged his shoulders