"Wait a moment! I am not sure--he doesn't look bad. I thought, Judge, you could tell whether he had really taken my purse," she ended reproachfully. "Do you consider me a mind reader, miss?" the judge retorted, suspending that sentence in mid-air. "Let him say something! Let him tell his story," the young lady urged. "Perhaps he isn't guilty, after all. I am sure he doesn't look it."' "Why, Sarah!" the old gentleman gasped in astonishment. "You said this morning at breakfast that you were sure he had stolen it." Here the detective put in his oar. "I know him and the one that was with him--they're old sneaks, your Honor." "That's a lie!" I said, finding my tongue at last. "Good!" the judge exclaimed appreciatively. "I am inclined to think so, too, Edward," he went on, adjusting his diamond circlet with one finger. "This young lady thinks you have a story of your own. Have you?" "Yes, I have, and a straight one," I answered, plucking up my courage. "Of course," he grunted sarcastically. "Well, let's have it, but make it short." It did sound rather lame when I came to tell what I had done with myself since I had entered the city. When I got to that part about the house where Ed and I had been disturbed by thieves, the old gentleman broke in:-- "Bless my soul! That must be the Wordens' house. The officer said there were two suspicious characters who ran away up the boulevard. This fellow must be one of them. Of course he took the purse! You know the Wordens, don't you, Judge?" His Honor merely nodded to the old gentleman, smiled at the young lady, and said to me:-- "Go on, young man! Tell us why you left home in the first place." I got red all over again at this invitation, and was taken with a new panic. "Who are your folks? What's the name of the place?" the judge asked encouragingly. "Jasonville, Indiana." "What's the matter with Jasonville, Edward?" he asked more sharply. "Why do you blush for it?" "I had rather not tell with all these folks around," I answered, looking at the young lady. * * * * * His Honor must have found something in my case a little out of his ordinary experience, for he took me back into his own room. He got me started on my story, and one thing led to another. His manner changed all of a sudden: he no longer tried to be smart, and he seemed to have plenty of time. After that long night in the jail I wanted to talk. So I told his Honor just how it had been with me from the beginning. CHAPTER III JASONVILLE, INDIANA _The Harringtons--The village magnate--A young hoodlum--On the road to school--The first woman--Disgrace, and a girl's will--An unfortunate coincidence--In trouble again--May loses faith--The end of Jasonville--Discharged--A loan--Charity--The positive young lady hopes I shall start right--The lake front once more--I preach myself a good sermon_