So you've got him," said Ben, advancing to meet the officer with
evident satisfaction.

"He's got you too," growled the pickpocket. "Why didn't you run away,
you little fool?"

"I didn't have anything to run for," answered Ben. "Besides, I want my
money back."

"Then you'll have to go with me to the station-house," said the officer.

"I wish I could go to Mr. Abercrombie's office first to tell Mr. Sampson
what's happened."

"I can't let you do that; but you may write a letter from the
station-house."

"All right," said Ben, cheerfully; and he voluntarily placed himself on
the other side of the officer, and accompanied him to the station-house.

"I thought you was guilty at first," said the officer; "but I guess your
story is correct. If it isn't, you're about the coolest chap I ever
saw, and I've seen some cool ones in my day."

"It's just as I said," said Ben. "It'll all come right in the morning."

They soon reached the station-house. Ben obtained the privilege of
writing a letter to Mr. Sampson, for which the officer undertook to
procure a messenger. In fact he began to feel quite interested for our
hero, feeling fully convinced that the other party was the real
offender.

Ben found some difficulty in writing his letter. When he first came to
the city, he could have written one with considerable ease, but he had
scarcely touched a pen, or formed a letter, for six years, and of course
this made an important difference. However he finally managed to write
these few lines with a lead-pencil:--

"MR. SAMPSON: I am sory I can't cary that leter til to-morrow; but it
was took from my pokit by a thefe wen I was ridin' in the cars, and as
he sed I took it from him, the 'copp' has brort us both to the
stashun-house, whare I hope you wil come and tel them how it was, and
that you give me the leter to cary, for the other man says it is his
The 'copp' took the leter

"BEN HOOPER."

It will be observed that Ben's spelling had suffered; but this will not
excite surprise, considering how long it was since he had attended
school. It will also be noticed that he did not sign his real name, but
used the same which he had communicated to Charles Marston. More than
ever, till he was out of his present difficulty, he desired to conceal
his identity from his relations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sampson was busily engaged in his office in Wall Street.
It may as well be explained here that he was the junior partner of M