few days, if he was sure that they
would keep it to themselves.

Oscar saw Edward almost every day, and often inquired about his
speculation, but got no definite answer. He and Alfred both felt very
curious to know what it was; but though expectation was on tiptoe, it
was not gratified. Edward assured them, however, that things were
nearly ready, and that in a few days he would let them into the
mysterious scheme.

Oscar's uncle, from Brookdale, was now in the city, and was stopping
for a few days at Mr. Preston's. He no sooner arrived, than Oscar
applied to his parents for permission to return with him to Maine; but
they did not give much encouragement to his proposal, although his
uncle said he should like to have him make his family another visit.
Oscar, however, daily renewed his request, for he believed that he
should yet accomplish his object by teasing.

The day before Oscar's uncle was to return to his home, a gentleman
called into Mr. Preston's store, and told him he wished to see him
alone. Having with drawn to a private room, the stranger introduced
himself as an officer of the police.

"You have a son fourteen or fifteen years old?" inquired the officer.

"Yes, I have," replied Mr. Preston.

"Are you aware that he is getting into bad company?" continued the
officer.

"No, sir," said Mr. Preston.

"Well," resumed the other, "I 've called to acquaint you of a few facts
that have come to my knowledge, and you can act in the matter as you
think best. There is a young fellow stopping at the ---- Hotel, who
came to this city a few weeks ago, and who calls himself Edward Mixer.
He is a little larger than your son, and is well dressed, and looks
like a respectable boy; but for a week or two past we have suspected
that he was a rogue. He hangs around the railroad depots, and as
several persons have had their pockets picked, when getting out of the
cars, since he made his appearance, we began to watch him. We have got
no evidence against him yet; but yesterday I pointed him out to a New
York policeman, who happened to be here, and he says he knows him well.
It seems he is a regular pickpocket by profession, and has served a
term at Blackwell's Island. [1] He was liberated last month, and came
on here to follow the business where he isn't known. But we keep a
sharp eye on him, and as we have noticed that your son is quite
intimate with him, I thought it my duty to inform you of it. I don't
suppose