duty to the public, and that our hero
was duly branded as a desperate fellow. No doubt he believed Bobby was
an awful monster; for at the conclusion of his remarks he introduced
some severe strictures on the lenity of the magistrate, because he had
made the sentence two years, instead of five, which the writer thought
the atrocious crime deserved. But, then, the justice differed from him
in politics, which may account for the severity of the article.

Mr. Bayard read this precious paragraph with mingled grief and
indignation. He understood the case at a glance. Tom Spicer had joined
him, and the little merchant had been involved in his crime. He was
sure that Bobby had had no part in stealing the money. One so noble
and true as he had been could not steal, he reasoned. It was contrary
to experience, contrary to common sense.

He was very much disturbed. This intelligence would be a severe blow
to the poor boy's mother, and he had not the courage to destroy all
her bright hopes by writing her the terrible truth. He was confident
that Bobby was innocent, and that his being in the company of Tom
Spicer had brought the imputation upon him; so he could not let the
matter take its course. He was determined to do something to procure
his liberty and restore his reputation.

Squire Lee was in the city that day, and had left his store only half
an hour before he discovered the paragraph. He immediately sent to his
hotel for him, and together they devised means to effect Bobby's
liberation. The squire was even more confident than Mr. Bayard that
our hero was innocent of the crime charged upon him. They agreed to
proceed immediately to the State of Maine, and use their influence in
obtaining his pardon. The bookseller was a man of influence in the
community, and was as well known in Maine as in Massachusetts; but to
make their application the surer, he procured letters of introduction
from some of the most distinguished men in Boston to the governor and
other official persons in Maine.

We will leave them now to do the work they had so generously
undertaken, and return to the Reform School, where Bobby and Tom were
confined. The latter took the matter very coolly. He seemed to feel
that he deserved his sentence, but he took a malicious delight in
seeing Bobby the companion of his captivity. He even had the hardihood
to remind him of the blow he had struck him more than two months
before, telling him that he had vowed vengeance