ld man thrust out his hand, and Frank quickly
dropped the article into his palm. He could see that Mr. Dennison was
very much affected. Doubtless memories long since buried were once
more resurrected by the sight of that reminder of his once happy past.

Frank wondered whether he would relent and decide to let matters
drop, or once more demand that the constable take them all to the
village, to be held for trial before the justice.

When he saw the man thrust into his pocket the fragment of the tiny
shoe, the leather of which was now dried up and hard, and then frown
again at them, Frank expected the worst.

"Since you have also tried to deceive me, after robbing my house in
this shameless manner," said Mr. Dennison, "I believe I shall be only
doing my duty toward the community if I see to it that you are
severely punished."

"Do you mean, sir, that you would have us arrested?" asked Frank.

"That is exactly my present intention," affirmed the other, showing
that he was still angry, and bent on punishing those he believed to
have wronged him.

"But you have found your cup again, sir; and we still declare on our
honor that until you picked it up just now none of us has ever set
eyes on it before."

When Frank said this he found the keen orbs of the hermit fastened on
his face as though the other would read his very soul through the
windows of the boy's eyes; but not once did Frank flinch.

"That is very true, boy," said Mr. Dennison, "but I believe in
justice, and that it is the wrong thing to be too lenient with
culprits. When young fellows are given to such practices as this they
need to be brought up with a round turn. So I mean to have the
constable arrest you all!"

To the astonishment of Frank and his three companions, just at that
moment there was a new element injected into the game. Some one
hurriedly entered the cabin; and somehow Frank breathed a little more
freely when he recognized the newcomer as the young man whom they had
been able to help while on the way to Cabin Point.

It was Gilbert Dennison, the old hermit's nephew.

"Please wait a minute before you go to such extreme measures, Uncle!"
he exclaimed, as he hurried to the side of the hermit, whose face lost
some of its stern expression as he recognized his relative.

"I'm glad to see you again, Nephew," he observed; "and pleased to give
over into your keeping the cup you value so highly. I shall insist on
your taking it back to town wit