"I'll give it up," said the youth, laughingly. "I haven't been to a show since I came to Boston, and that's a number of weeks ago." "Humph! What do you do with yourself nights?" "I'm here up to eight or half past, and after that I either go home or to one of the public reading rooms, or to the Young Men's Christian Association Hall." "Humph! that must be dead slow." The man lurched heavily against the counter. "What time is it now?" "About half past eight. I haven't any watch, so I can't tell you exactly." "I've got a watch right here," mumbled the newcomer, still leaning heavily on the counter. "Here it is. But your light is so low I can't see the hands. Turn it up." Walter obligingly complied, and the fellow tried again to see the time, but failed. "Strike a match," he went on; "I ain't going to no theatre if it's as late as you say it is." Walter did not like the man's manner, but not caring to enter into any dispute, he lit a match as requested, and held it down close to the timepiece, which lay in the man's open palm. "Only eight-twenty," grumbled the fellow, slowly. "I knew you was off. You don't--What's up?" And suddenly he straightened himself and stared at Walter. "I want to know where you got that watch," demanded the youth, excitedly. "That watch?" The man fell back a pace. "What do you--ahem--why do you ask that question, boy?" "Because I know that watch," was Walter's ready reply. "It was stolen from my uncle in New York only a few weeks ago!" "Was it?" The man's face changed color. "You--you're mistaken, boy," he faltered, and fell back still further, and then, as Walter leaped over the counter, he took to his heels and started down the half-deserted street at the best speed at his command. CHAPTER III A CHASE AND ITS RESULT Walter knew that watch, which had belonged first to his father and then his mother, quite well, but if there was anything needed to convince him that there was no mistake in the identification, it was furnished by the hasty and unceremonious manner in which the partly intoxicated wearer was endeavoring to quit the scene. "If he was honest, he wouldn't run!" thought the youth. "Ten to one he's the thief who took the grip from Uncle Job." He started after the fleeing one. "Come back here!" he shouted. "Stop, thief!" But the man did not stop; instead, he tried to run the faster. But he did not turn any corners, and consequently, aided by the electric lights, Walter could see him for quite a distance ahead. The youth ran but a few yards, then turned and clashed back to the stand. Bang! the second shutter came down with a crash, and in a trice he had the padlock secured. Then off he set, satisfied that a form in the distance was the one he wanted to overtake. "What's the matter?" questioned a policeman on the second corner, as he clutched Walter by the arm. "What are you running for?"