OW LUKE ESCAPED

The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Luke was for the moment
incapable of resistance, though in general quite ready to defend
himself. It was not till he felt a hand in his pocket that he "pulled
himself together," as the English express it, and began to make things
lively for his assailants.

"What are you after?" he demanded. "Do you want to rob me?"

"Give us the money, and be quick about it."

"How do you know I have any money?" asked Luke, beginning to suspect
in whose hands he was.

"Never mind how! Hand over that five-dollar bill," was the reply in
the same hoarse whisper.

"I know you now. You're Tom Brooks," said Luke. "You're in bad
business."

"No, I'm not Tom Brooks." It was Pat who spoke now. "Come, we have no
time to lose. Stephen, give me your knife."

The name was a happy invention of Pat's to throw Luke off the scent.
He was not himself acquainted with our hero, and did not fear
identification.

"One of you two is Tom Brooks," said Luke, firmly. "You'd better give
up this attempt at highway robbery. If I summon an officer you're
liable to a long term of imprisonment. I'll save you trouble by
telling you that I haven't any money with me, except a few pennies."

"Where's the five-dollar bill?"

It was Tom who spoke now.

"I left it at home with my mother. It's lucky I did, though you would
have found it hard to get it from me."

"I don't believe it," said Tom, in a tone betraying disappointment.

"You may search me if you like; but if a policeman comes by you'd
better take to your heels."

The boys appeared disconcerted.

"Is he lying?" asked Pat.

"No," responded Tom. "He'd own up if he had the money."

"Thank you for believing me. It is very evident that one of you knows
me. Good-night. You'd better find some other way of getting money."

"Wait a minute! Are you going to tell on us? It wouldn't be fair to
Tom Brooks. He ain't here, but you might get him into trouble."

"I shan't get you into trouble, Tom, but I'm afraid you bring trouble
on yourself."

Apparently satisfied with this promise, the two boys slunk away in the
darkness, and Luke was left to proceed on his way unmolested.

"I wouldn't have believed that of Tom," thought Luke. "I'm sorry it
happened. If it had been anyone but me, and a cop had come by, it
would have gone hard with him. It's lucky I left the money with
mother, though I don't think they'd have got it at any rate."

Luke did