"How did it happen?" asked Percy, curious to know how suspicion could have fallen upon Bert. "It appears that Mr. Jones laid a twenty-dollar bill on his desk--a very careless proceeding, by the way--while he was waiting upon a customer in another part of the store. About five minutes afterward the Barton boy called upon him to fill a small can with kerosene, and actually had the hardihood to offer his own twenty-dollar bill in payment." "Bert Barton offered Mr. Jones a twenty-dollar bill?" asked Percy, in great surprise. "Yes; no wonder you are surprised at his boldness." "Perhaps it wasn't the same bill," Percy was constrained to suggest. "You must be a fool, Percy. Where else could he have got so large a bill as that? We all know how poor the Bartons are. Besides, the bill on the desk had disappeared." Percy was silent for a moment. He felt bewildered, and could not understand it at all. He knew very well that it was not the same bill. But where did the other bill come from? How happened a poor boy like Bert Barton to have such a large bill in his possession? That was certainly mysterious. "Was--was Bert arrested?" he asked, in a hesitating tone. "He would have been but for the interference of a meddlesome young lawyer, who, it appears, is staying at the hotel." "Mr. Conway?" "I believe that is his name. He offered to defend the Barton boy, and would not permit him to be arrested." Percy was glad to hear this. He was mean and selfish, but he was not mean enough to wish Bert to suffer for a crime of which he knew him to be innocent. "What was done, then?" he asked, after a pause. "The boy was allowed to go home, but his trial is to take place before me this morning at ten o'clock. You can be present, if you desire." "I--don't--know as I do," said Percy. His father looked surprised. "I thought you would be eager to be there," he said. "I may come in," said Percy; "but I am sorry for Bert, and I should not like to see him under arrest." "You are too good-hearted, Percy," said his mother. "I am sure I hope the boy did not do what is charged, though I don't think there is the slightest doubt of it; but if he is guilty I want him punished. That is the only way to protect the community from further thefts." "What would mother say if she knew I did it?" thought Percy, shivering. "I wish I hadn't done it." But it was too late to wish that. He had appropriated the money, and it had been paid away. Suppose Reginald Ward should betray him? Percy earnestly hoped that he would leave town before he had a chance to hear of the stolen money, for he felt certain that sharp young man would suspect him of having had something to do with it.