er had passed on, and was at a respectful distance,
Seth's friends returned, and it could be understood from their manner
that some definite plan of action had been decided upon during the
enforced absence.

"See here, Seth, we ain't such chumps as to jump on a feller when he's
down. If you don't want to tell us what you've been doin'----"

"I haven't done a thing, an' you know it, Tim Chandler," the lad
moaned, speaking with difficulty because of his sobs.

"Then what's the notice about?" Tim asked in a severe, yet friendly
tone.

"I don't know any more'n you do."

"Where's the lead nickel Mickey Dowd says somebody shoved on you the
other day?" Teddy Dixon asked sharply.

Seth raised his head, looked about him for a moment as a shadow of
fear passed over his face, and, dropping Snip for an instant, plunged
both hands deep in his trousers pockets.

Withdrawing them he displayed a small collection of silver and copper
coins, which he turned over eagerly, his companions crowding yet more
closely to assure themselves that the examination was thorough.

"It's gone!" Seth cried shrilly. "It's gone; but I'll cross my throat
if I knew I was passin' it!"

Snip, hearing his young master's cry of fear, stood on his hind feet,
scratching and clawing to attract attention, and, hardly conscious of
what he did, Seth took the little fellow in his arms once more.

"That settles the whole business," Teddy Dixon cried, in the tone of
one who has made an important discovery. "You shoved it on somebody
who'd been lookin' for counterfeit money, an' now the detectives are
after you!"

Seth glanced quickly and apprehensively around, as if fearing the
officers of the law were already close upon him, and the seeming
mystery was unravelled.

From that moment there was not even the shadow of a doubt in the minds
of Seth's acquaintances, and, believing that he had not intended to
commit such a grave crime, the sympathies of all were aroused.

"You've got to skip mighty quick," Tim said, after a brief pause,
during which each lad had looked at his neighbor as if asking what
could be done to rescue the threatened boy.

"Where'll I go?" Seth cried tearfully. "They know what my name is, an'
there ain't much use for me to hide."

"You can bet I wouldn't hang 'round here many seconds," one of the
group said, in a low tone, glancing around to make certain his words
were not overheard by the minions of the law. "If we fellers keep our