magistrate's
presence. The judge gratefully shook hands with the friendly justice,
and made him a little speech of thanks, which Breckon interpreted, and
then the justice shook hand with the judge, and gracefully accepted the
introduction which he offered him to Ellen. They parted with reciprocal
praises and obeisances, which included even the detectives. The judge
had some question, which he submitted to Breckon, whether he ought not
to offer them something, but Breckon thought not.

Breckon found it hard to abdicate the sort of authority in which his
knowledge of Dutch had placed him, and when he protested that he had
done nothing but act as interpreter, Ellen said, "Yes, but we couldn't
have done anything without you," and this was the view that Mrs. Kenton
took of the matter in the family conclave which took place later in the
evening. Breckon was not allowed to withdraw from it, in spite of many
modest efforts, before she had bashfully expressed her sense of his
service to him, and made Boyne share her thanksgiving. She had her arm
about the boy's shoulder in giving Breckon her hand, and when Breckon
had got away she pulled Boyne to her in a more peremptory embrace.

"Now, Boyne," she said, "I am not going to have any more nonsense. I
want to know why you did it."

The judge and Ellen had already conjectured clearly enough, and Boyne
did not fear them. But he looked at his younger sister as he sulkily
answered, "I am not going to tell you before Lottie."

"Come in here, then," said his mother, and she led him into the next
room and closed the door. She quickly returned without him. "Yes," she
began, "it's just as I supposed; it was that worthless fellow who
put him up to it. Of course, it began with those fool books he's been
reading, and the notions that Miss Rasmith put into his head. But he
never would have done anything if it hadn't been for Mr. Trannel."

Lottie had listened in silent scorn to the whole proceedings up to this
point, and had refused a part in the general recognition of Breckon as
a special providence. Now she flashed out with a terrible volubility:
"What did I tell you? What else could you expect of a Cook's tourist?
And mom--mother wanted to make me go with you, after I told her what
he was! Well, if I had have gone, I'll bet I could have kept him from
playing his tricks. I'll bet he wouldn't have taken any liberties,
with me along. I'll bet if he had, it wouldn't have been Boyne that
got