"It is of no use your denying it. I am convinced that you have betrayed me, and I will have no mercy on you. Gentlemen, arrest me if you think best, but arrest him too. He is just as guilty as I am." "You assert that he is your confederate?" said Lawrence. "Yes." "How long have you known him?" "Ever since he was born. His mother was a cousin of mine," Palmer asserted unblushingly. "Do you believe this, Mr. Ferguson?" asked Fred, quite overwhelmed. "I never saw this man till last evening." "If he is your cousin, what is his name?" asked the detective, not answering Fred's appeal. "Fred Fenton," said Palmer coolly. "He has got my name right, but he saw it in the hotel register," said Fred. "I presume you are right," said Ferguson. "You seem interested in my young cousin," said Palmer with a malicious sneer. "Do you mean to say that he was with you in Elmira?" asked Lawrence. "Yes; he stood outside to warn me if any one came along, who was likely to interfere with me." "And you both took the train for Niagara after the burglary was effected?" "Exactly." Lawrence was staggered by the positive assertions of the culprit. It must be considered that he was not acquainted with Fred, who, so far as he knew, might be an artful young adventurer. "Why didn't you take the boy over to the Canada side with you?" "It was understood that he was to come over later in the day. We passed for strangers at the Lynch House, and I thought it might excite suspicion if we both went away together at so early an hour in the morning." "Mr. Palmer," said Fred warmly, "you know perfectly well that all these statements are false, and that I never met you or had anything to do with you till last evening." "It won't do, Fred!" said the burglar. "You and I are in the same boat. You are a boy, and will probably get a lighter sentence than I. But you shouldn't go back on your old pal like this." "Do you believe that man, Mr. Ferguson?" asked Fred with a troubled look. "No, but I shall be obliged to hold you till I produce him in court to-morrow." CHAPTER XVII. TWO YOUNG LADY PASSENGERS AT ODDS. Ferguson produced a pair of handcuffs and pinioned the wrists of his captive. Palmer protested against the humiliation, but Ferguson said quietly: "You are too important a prisoner for me to run any risk." "Are you going to handcuff _him?_" asked the burglar, indicating Fred. "No." "Why not? Why should you treat him better than me?" "I don't think he is guilty; but even if he is I am not afraid of his running away." "You are deceived in him. He looks innocent enough, but he has been concerned in a dozen burglaries." "I hear considerable news about myself," said Fred, "but the truth will come out at last."