th a bright, attractive face.

"I thought you might like company," said the clerk in a friendly
manner. "This is my young cousin, Frank Hamblin, who will remain with
yon for a while."

"I am glad to see you, Frank," said Fred offering his hand. "You are
very kind to come and see a bold, bad burglar."

"You don't look much like it," said Frank, laughing. "Still appearances
are deceitful."

"I don't think I look wicked," said Fred meditatively, as he glanced at
his reflection in a small mirror that hung over the washstand. "Yet it
appears that I have broken into a gentleman's house in Elmira, and
stolen a gold watch and chain and some government bonds."

"How could you do it?" asked Frank with much seriousness. "So young and
yet so wicked!"

"That's the question that puzzles me," said Fred. "How could I do it
when at the time the burglary was committed I was speeding over the
Erie road at the rate of thirty miles an hour?"

"Can you prove this?" asked Frank eagerly.

"Certainly I could, if the conductor or brakeman of my car were here."

"Where are they?"

"Probably on their way back to New York."

"Do you live there?"

"Yes."

"I have always wanted to see the city of New York. It must be a gay
place."

"You are right there, Frank. Whenever you do come, just inquire for
Fred Fenton, and I will show you round. There is my address."

"Thank you! I should like it ever so much. Have you ever been here
before?"

"No. I wanted very much to see the Falls, but here I am locked up in a
hotel chamber. I wish the Falls were visible from the window."

"They are on the other side of the house."

"Do you know this detective--the one that searched me?"

"Yes, I have seen him. I heard him tell my cousin that he did not
believe you guilty, but that finding the watch and chain in your bundle
was a suspicious circumstance."

"I suppose it is. Now I can understand how innocent people get into
trouble. Do you live here?"

"No, I am only visiting some friends here. I live in Auburn."

"That's where the State's prison is, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Then I hope I shan't go to Auburn to live. Have you any idea how long
I shall have to stay here?"

"Till evening, I suppose. You will probably be brought before a justice
in the morning," was Frank's reply.

Fred sighed.

"How differently things have turned out from what I anticipated," he
said. "I expected to be walking round, and looking at the Falls to-day."

"Hold