t his boldness."

"Perhaps it wasn't the same bill," Percy was constrained to suggest.

"You must be a fool, Percy. Where else could he have got so large a bill
as that? We all know how poor the Bartons are. Besides, the bill on the
desk had disappeared."

Percy was silent for a moment. He felt bewildered, and could not
understand it at all. He knew very well that it was not the same bill.
But where did the other bill come from? How happened a poor boy like
Bert Barton to have such a large bill in his possession? That was
certainly mysterious.

"Was--was Bert arrested?" he asked, in a hesitating tone.

"He would have been but for the interference of a meddlesome young
lawyer, who, it appears, is staying at the hotel."

"Mr. Conway?"

"I believe that is his name. He offered to defend the Barton boy, and
would not permit him to be arrested."

Percy was glad to hear this. He was mean and selfish, but he was not
mean enough to wish Bert to suffer for a crime of which he knew him to
be innocent.

"What was done, then?" he asked, after a pause.

"The boy was allowed to go home, but his trial is to take place before
me this morning at ten o'clock. You can be present, if you desire."

"I--don't--know as I do," said Percy.

His father looked surprised.

"I thought you would be eager to be there," he said.

"I may come in," said Percy; "but I am sorry for Bert, and I should not
like to see him under arrest."

"You are too good-hearted, Percy," said his mother. "I am sure I hope
the boy did not do what is charged, though I don't think there is the
slightest doubt of it; but if he is guilty I want him punished. That is
the only way to protect the community from further thefts."

"What would mother say if she knew I did it?" thought Percy, shivering.
"I wish I hadn't done it."

But it was too late to wish that. He had appropriated the money, and it
had been paid away. Suppose Reginald Ward should betray him? Percy
earnestly hoped that he would leave town before he had a chance to hear
of the stolen money, for he felt certain that sharp young man would
suspect him of having had something to do with it.

As the time drew near, Percy decided that he had better not attend the
trial. He was afraid that some one would call to mind that he too had
been standing near the desk just before the bill disappeared. He felt
nervous and excited. He wished it was all over, and Bert was acquitted.
Suppose he were found guilty a