to him, and forty-five dollars worth of gum ain't
no trifling matter."

Then he turned sharply to Isaac.

"Didn't you take that gum yourself?" he asked. "Remember, this is going
to court unless I'm cleared of it."

Isaac whimpered.

"If I own up to it will that save me?" he asked.

"Yes," assured Tony; "tell the truth."

"I took it," confessed Isaac. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry he's found out," muttered the stranger. Then he said in a louder
tone, "I hope this'll be a warning. There's nothing so good for everyday
wear as the truth. It'll wash and won't fade."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A Revelation.

The little conference at Mr. Furbush's was over, and Mr. Morrison,
rising, said slowly:

"I was very sorry to feel it my duty to take part in this matter. Let us
forget it, and all be friends. Good-day, Mr. Furbush."

He shook hands with that gentleman, and also with Isaac, both of whom
responded with very poor grace.

Then they walked out into the open air. Mr. Morrison, turning to Tony as
they reached the sidewalk, remarked:

"My boy, I was glad to see that you exhibited no desire for revenge."

As they walked back toward Mr. Smart's store, the senior Morrison talked
earnestly with the stranger, while young Morrison said to Tony:

"Well, good-by, my friend. Father is determined to go back to Boston
to-night, and wants me to go with him. I won't forget you."

Morrison gave him a warm pressure of the hand, and then Tony found
himself alone. How unutterably lonesome the world seemed to the boy at
that moment! and as he walked slowly home he reviewed the events of the
last few months.

His winter's work had exceeded his most sanguine expectations, and yet
he felt the burden of defeat upon him. When he reached home, his father
questioned him closely in regard to what had transpired, all of which he
explained minutely.

"The young rascal!" said Job Loring, clenching his hands and frowning.
"He got off too easy. He'd orter had a lesson."

"I am satisfied," said Tony. "I think it will be a lesson to him."

Tony was treated with much more consideration than formerly, but somehow
it brought him little comfort, and a week dragged slowly by.

Aaron had improved greatly, now that poverty had loosened its grip upon
them, and was helping his father fix up around the house, when a
stranger came walking up to the door one afternoon.

"Hullo, Job! How are you?" he cried, reaching out his hand