.'

'Well, I'll tell you. Know what Sagacious done?'

'Sagacious? Who is he?'

'Sam Sagacious--Sleuth-hound Sam.'

Harry looked puzzled.

'What, don't you know Sleuth-hound Sam? He's a great feller in a book,
what tracks down criminals. Listen here. One time a chap what was a mate
of his got put in gaol for stealin' money from a bank where he worked,
when it wasn't him at all. Sam, he went an' got a job at the same bank,
and that's how he found out the coves 'at done it.'

The young man turned upon Dick, and sat for a moment following up the
inference. Then he gripped the latter's hand.

'By thunder!' he cried excitedly, 'that's a better idea than I could hit
on in a week.'

Dick did not doubt it; he had but a poor opinion of the resourcefulness
of his elders when not figuring in the pages of romantic literature, but
he was gratified by Harry's ready recognition of his talent, and
proceeded to enlarge upon the peculiar qualities of Sleuth-hound Sam,
give instances of his methods, and relate some of his many successes.

At tea that evening Harry broached the subject of his visit to the
chapel. He knew his mother would hear of it, and thought it best she
should have the melancholy story from his lips.

'Do you see much of Shine's daughter, mother?' he asked.

'I do not see her often, but she has grown into a tall, handsome girl;
very different from the wild little thing you rescued from the cattle on
the common eight years ago.'

'Yes; I've seen her--saw her in the chapel this morning.'

'In the chapel,' said Mrs. Hardy, turning upon him with surprise; 'were
you in the chapel, Henry?'

Harry nodded rather shamefacedly.

'Yes, mother,' he said, 'I went to chapel, an' took my whip with me. I
meant to scruff Shine before the lot o' them, an' lash him black an'
blue.'

'That was shameful--shameful!

'Anyhow, I didn't do it. She came an' put me off, an' I sneaked out as if
I'd been licked myself. I couldn't have hammered the brute before her
eyes, but--but--'

'But you meant to; is that it? Henry, you almost make me despair. Have
you no more respect for yourself? Have you none for me?'

'I couldn't stand it. You've heard. It made me mad!'

'I have heard all, and I think Mr. Shine is a well intentioned man whose
faith, such as it is, is honest; but he is ignorant, coarse-fibred, and
narrow-minded. He is doing right according to his own poor, dim light,
and could not be convinced otherwise by any word o