placing his own twenty-dollar
bill, and it was nowhere to be seen.

"Why, you audacious young thief!" he exclaimed in a fury.

"What do you mean?" demanded Bert angrily.

"What do I mean?" gasped Jones. "You know what I mean well enough. I
never knew such audacity."

"Please explain yourself, Mr. Jones," said Bert with spirit. "I didn't
come here to be insulted."

"You are a hardened young reprobate! Do you mean to say you didn't steal
this twenty-dollar bill from my desk, where I laid it five minutes
since?"

"I don't know anything about any twenty-dollar bill of yours, Mr. Jones.
This money is mine, or rather my mother's, and I brought it with me from
home."

"Do you expect me to believe this bold falsehood, Bert Barton?" the
store-keeper exploded wrathfully.

"I don't expect you to believe any falsehood at all, Mr. Jones. Will you
either change that bill or give it back to me?"

"I will do neither."

"Then, sir, it is you who are the thief."

"You impudent young rascal, now I won't have any mercy on you. For your
mother's sake, I might have done so, but as you persist in brazening out
your guilt, I will see that you have a chance to repent. Here is the
constable come in just at the right moment. Mr. Drake, please come
here."

A tall, pleasant-looking officer, who had just entered the store,
approached the desk.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Jones?" he asked.

"Arrest this boy!" said Jones, pointing with flushed face at his young
customer.

"Arrest Bert Barton!" exclaimed Constable Drake, in amazement. "What on
earth has he done?"

"Stolen a twenty-dollar bill from my desk, and then presented it to me
in payment for some kerosene."

"The charge is false!" said Bert, his eyes glowing with indignation.

"Hear him deny it!" said Jones, looking at the circle that had gathered
around them.

"I find it hard to credit your charge, Mr. Jones," replied the
constable. "We all know Bert Barton, and I don't believe he would be
guilty of theft."

"I require you to arrest the boy!" persisted the store-keeper, stamping
his foot in excitement.

"Wait a moment! Did you see him take the bill?"

"No," answered Jones reluctantly.

"Then why do you accuse him? Please state the circumstances."

"A few minutes since I was paid twenty dollars by Mr. Holbrook of the
hotel, in settlement of his weekly bill for groceries, and being
somewhat hurried I laid it down on the desk while I was filling an
order."

"