ed Nick is entirely
innocent of this crime. I have become deeply interested in that boy.
He has had a bad name, it is true; but somehow I seemed to feel that
there were elements of great good in him, if only he could be brought
to book, and made to change his ways of life. He must have a new
viewpoint of human nature, to start with. I thought I might arouse
him through talking, and fatherly advice, but so far I could not see
success following my labors. But you have hit upon an ingenious
device, my boy, that promises wonderful results. We may yet make a
second Jean Valjean of the despised Nick Lang; and that would be an
achievement worthy of anyone."

Hugh felt more than repaid for all he had done when he heard the old
deacon say this with such warmth.

"There was one thing I wanted to learn, sir, if you don't mind
telling me," he went on to say. "It concerns his engagement to come
out here and help you last night. Were you expecting him? Was
Saturday night the one he generally took to come and help you get rid
of some of your extra work that couldn't be done in the daytime, for
all the horse-shoeing you have on your hands?"

The deacon smiled, and Hugh really had his answer before the old man
even opened his lips. All the same he was pleased to hear him say:

"Up to now it has always been on Monday night Nick came out. That
was more convenient for me, as a rule, and he accommodated himself to
my wishes. But yesterday afternoon he dropped in to see me here,
with his skates dangling across his shoulder, as if he had been
skating. He said he would like very much to come for that once on
Saturday night, instead of Monday; and that he had a good reason for
making the change, which meant a whole lot to him."

"I see," remarked Hugh; "and it was clever of Nick. You agreed, of
course, sir, seeing that he was here?"

"It made no particular difference to me," added the blacksmith, "and
I was glad to know the lad cared enough about the work to want to
make the change. So I told him to be along as usual about seven, as
I had a raft of work on hand that would keep us until well on after
eleven. As a fact, it was fifteen minutes after that hour when Nick
started for home."

"You remember that positively then, sir,--the hour, I mean?" asked
Hugh.

"Oh! I could swear to it," came the reply. "In the first place I
heard the town clock strike eleven, and counted the strokes myself,
remarking that we must shut