important a prisoner for me to run any risk."

"Are you going to handcuff _him?_" asked the burglar, indicating Fred.

"No."

"Why not? Why should you treat him better than me?"

"I don't think he is guilty; but even if he is I am not afraid of his
running away."

"You are deceived in him. He looks innocent enough, but he has been
concerned in a dozen burglaries."

"I hear considerable news about myself," said Fred, "but the truth will
come out at last."

As the party passed through the streets they naturally attracted
considerable attention. Though a criminal, Palmer had for years evaded
arrest, and he felt mortified at the position in which he was placed.
He reflected bitterly that but for the mistake of the hotel clerk, he
might be at ease with his booty on the Canada side. As it was, things
seemed to have worked steadily against him, notwithstanding his clever
schemes. A long term of imprisonment stared him in the face, instead of
a couple of years of luxury on which he had counted. If he could only
involve Fred in his own misfortune it would be partial satisfaction. To
effect this he was prepared to swear to anything and everything.

Fred, though only nominally a prisoner, felt very uncomfortable. He was
saved from the disgrace of being handcuffed, and was consoled by
knowing that not even the detective believed him guilty of any
connection with the burglary. Still he was not his own master, to come
and go as he pleased, and it was not certain that he would be able to
go back to New York the next day as he had planned. Circumstances thus
far had worked against him, but there was to be a turn in the tide. As
they walked through the streets on the way to the station house, where
Palmer was to be locked up for safekeeping, they met a man whose dress
showed him to be an employee of the Erie road.

"Mr. Ferguson," said Fred eagerly, "that is the conductor of one of my
trains. He will tell you that I am the train-boy."

The conductor had just discovered and recognized Fred.

"You are staying over, like me," he said.

"Yes, I have permission."

"And so have I. I have a brother living here, and got two days off.
Where are you stopping?"

"At the Lynch House. Will you tell this gentleman that I am an Erie
train boy?"

"Certainly; but why is that necessary?" asked the conductor in
surprise.

"I will tell you later. Mr. Ferguson, have you any questions to ask?"

"Was this boy on your train yesterday?"