e,
pointing to Tom, who stood in surly silence awaiting his fate.

"He is the one who came into the store," replied the shopkeeper.

"_I_ haven't stole any wallet," protested Bobby, who now understood the
whole affair.

The names of the two boys were taken, and warrants procured for their
detention. They were searched, and upon Tom was found the lost wallet,
and upon Bobby two ten dollar bills, which, the loser was willing to
swear had been in the wallet. The evidence therefore was conclusive,
and they were both sent to jail.

Poor Bobby! the inmate of a prison!

The law took its course, and in due time both of them were sentenced to
two years' imprisonment in the State Reform School. Bobby was
innocent, but he could not make his innocence appear. He had been the
companion of Tom, the real thief, and part of the money had been found
upon his person. Tom was too mean to exonerate him, and even had the
hardihood to exult over his misfortune.

At the end of three days they reached the town in which the Reform
School is located, and were duly committed for their long term.

Poor Bobby!

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN WHICH BOBBY TAKES FRENCH LEAVE, AND CAMPS IN THE WOODS.

The intelligence of Bobby's misfortune reached Mr. Bayard, in Boston,
by means of the newspapers. To the country press an item is a matter
of considerable importance, and the alleged offence against the peace
and dignity of the State of Maine was duly heralded to the inquiring
public as a "daring robbery." The reporter who furnished the facts in
the case for publication was not entirely devoid of that essential
qualification of the country item writer, a lively imagination, and was
obliged to dress up the particulars a little, in order to produce the
necessary amount of wonder and indignation. It was stated that one of
the two young men had been prowling about the place for several days,
ostensibly for the purpose of selling books, but really with the
intention of stealing whatever he could lay his hands upon. It was
suggested that the boys were in league with an organized band of
robbers, whose nefarious purposes would be defeated by the timely
arrest of these young villains. The paper hinted that further
depredations would probably be discovered, and warned people to beware
of ruffians strolling about the country in the guise of pedlers.

The writer of this thrilling paragraph must have had reason to believe
that he had discharged his