"Hullo, Dick Boden; you ought to be home and abed! There’s your mother down the road with a cane looking for you." And Curly Peters, who stood on the edge of the curb puffing away at a cigarette, laughed boisterously. Dick did not answer, but, being afraid of arousing suspicion, he walked very leisurely till he had turned the corner and was out of sight. Then he ran at his topmost speed, reaching the stationer’s shop breathless and exhausted. He was approaching the door to knock when he noticed, through the side window, that the shop was brilliantly lit. "Broad must have returned," thought he, "and perhaps brought a policeman. I wonder if they are searching Jim." He tried to peer in, but could see nothing. Then, crouching close to the door, he listened. All was still; he could hear no sound. "I may as well knock," he thought, and had raised his hand to do so when a man inside began speaking. "That’s Broad," said Dick to himself, and directly afterwards he heard his chum’s voice. Then the key turned in the lock, the door was flung open, and Dick found himself face to face with Mr. Farrant. "Hullo!" exclaimed the latter, who was just going for a policeman; "who’s this?" Dick was rather taken aback, but he answered boldly, "If you please, I want to see Mr. Broad." "Come again in the morning; he is busy now." "But I can’t wait," pleaded Dick. "I must see him now; it’s very important." "Let him in, Farrant," said the stationer; "he may know something of this miserable business." "Come along then," grumbled Farrant, pulling him roughly inside and shutting the door. "Now, what have you to say? Make haste with your yarn, whatever it is!" Dick glanced around apprehensively, and felt relieved at finding no policeman in the shop. He smiled brightly at Jim, as if to say, "Cheer up, old chap; I’ll soon get you out of this scrape!" and then walked over to Mr. Broad. "I fancy I have seen you before," said that gentleman. "Aren’t you one of Hartland’s friends?" "Yes, sir," replied Dick promptly; "Jim and I are old friends." "Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Farrant, showing a sudden interest in the conversation; "is your name Peters?" "No," replied Dick in surprise; "my name’s Boden, but Peters has something to do with what I’ve come about.—Have you lost any money, Mr. Broad?" "I’ve been robbed of some," answered Jim’s employer sternly. "Was there a shilling amongst it?" "Yes. Why?" "I’ll tell you soon, sir," said Dick; "but I want to make sure of my ground first. I should like to ask if there was a circle with a starred centre scratched on it?" "Yes," replied the stationer, now thoroughly interested—"the same mark as on the sixpence which has been found in your friend Hartland’s pocket." "I hope you don’t think Jim a thief, sir. He wouldn’t steal a pin."