never accept
his excuses. It isn't the way to bring up a boy. But he doesn't steal,
and I don't let him go out nights, so he can't have any companions. But
why do you ask? What business of yours is it?"

"Just one more question before I answer you."

"You seem mighty long on questions, but I'll not answer another one
until you tell me why you are taking such pains to find out about Bob.
He hasn't any friend but me. I'm his guardian."

So hostile was the grocer's manner becoming, and with such increasing
suspicion did he view his inquisitor, that Foster realized it would be
necessary to explain Bob's predicament were he to be able to help him,
and briefly he told the story that had been repeated in the police
station.

"That just goes to show my theory is right," declared the grocer, when
he had been given the particulars of his ward's arrest. "If Bob had gone
about his business and delivered the order, instead of being tempted by
the offer of a dollar, he wouldn't have got into this trouble. It will
be a good lesson for him, and I shall be able to get along some way, I
suppose, until he comes back."

"But surely you don't mean to say that you are not going to do anything
to help him out of his trouble?" exclaimed Foster in amazement, as he
heard the heartless words.

With a depreciating shrug of his shoulders, Len Dardus responded:

"But what can I do? It will cost money to hire a lawyer, or even to bail
him out. Besides, as I said, it will be a good lesson for him."

"But hasn't he any money of his own?" queried the reporter.

"What do you want to know for? Are you a lawyer? No, sir! if you are,
and have come to tell me about Bob in the hope that I will hire you, you
might as well go back to your place of business. I won't spend a cent on
him. The lesson will do him good."

The heartlessness of the grocer incensed Foster, and he retorted:

"It happens that I am not a lawyer, so it isn't any money that I am
after. I am acting simply from a desire to see the boy get fair
treatment, and if I were his guardian, whether he had any money or not,
I would do everything in my power to help him out of his trouble."

"But what can I do? There is no one to stay in the store here, and I
don't see how I could help any way."

"You could go down to the police station and speak a word for the lad.
If you have had the care of him for so long, what you could say in
regard to his honesty ought to be sufficient to cause his