aw were desirous of finding him,
and more than one of the throng set down the expression of trouble on
his face as strong proof of guilt.

Although conscious that he had committed no crime, the boy was
thoroughly alarmed at being thus advertised for. He knew that rewards
were offered for information which would lead to the apprehension of
criminals, and never so much as dreamed that similar methods might be
employed in a search for those who were innocent.

There was no reason, so he might have said to himself, why any lawyer
in the city of New York would care to see him, unless he had been
accused of some crime, but as he revolved the matter in his mind
terror took possession of him until all power of reflection had
departed.

The number of alleged friends or acquaintances had increased, until
Seth and Snip were literally surrounded, and every member of the
throng knew full well that the gathering would be rudely dispersed by
the first policeman who chanced to come that way. Therefore it was
that each fellow hastened to give his opinion as to the reason why the
advertisement had been inserted in the columns of the paper, and, with
five or six boys speaking at the same moment, it can well be
understood that no one of them succeeded in making any very great
impression upon the minds of his neighbors.

Seth understood, however, that every boy present was agreed upon the
supposed fact that a great crime had been committed, although these
young merchants might, upon due reflection, come to realize how
improbable was such a supposition.

When little Snip, seeming to understand that his master was in sore
distress, licked the boy's cheek, it was to Seth almost as if the dog
shared in the belief of those who were so ready to accuse him, and he
could restrain his feelings no longer.

Leaning against the iron column which supported the staircase, with
his face buried in Snip's silky hair, the crippled lad gave way to
tears, while his companions gazed at him severely, for to their minds
this show of grief was much the same as a confession of guilt.

A blue-coated guardian of the peace dispersed the throng before those
composing it had had time to make audible comment upon this last
evidence of an accusing conscience; but Seth was so bowed down by
bewilderment, sorrow, and fear as not to know that he stood alone with
Snip, while a throng of acquaintances gazed at him from the opposite
side of the street.

Once the offic