in connection with the care of his tame

k he's made up his mind to turn over a new leaf and redeem his rotten past. And I want to say here and now it's up to every boy in Scranton High to treat h

lock in the way of a chap who is trying to get out of his old rut. But it passes my comprehension ho

get up to respectability again. Take that Jean Valjean we were talking about the other day, who changed right-a

. After he had that revelation, and saw the good priest actually tell a lie in order to save him, he woke up, and, as you said, bega

like this, in a small way. But, Thad, do you feel

, or have you any sche

able to satisfy ourselves about a few things. It is just half a mile o

d interest

?" he remarked. "You want to interview th

and find a reason for believing Nick guilty, in spite of his alibi, I mean only

o understand why Nick should have been out there on just last night of all

ed raid on Kramer's store. Perhaps in times past they may even have plotted such a thing, so as to get all the cigarettes and candy they wanted for onc

got me interested a

the same time he was smart enough to see he would be placed under suspicion. And he must have arranged

n limits of the town of Scranton. It was some time before the customary church

enough toward the dignity of cityhood to have an auto for the police force, since the Chief often ha

the boys as

tisfaction from the old deacon. But he's awful stubborn, is our efficient head of police; and

ad known the other to make several "bone-plays" since coming to Scranton, and hence Hugh did not h

his shop. He was a big man, with the proverbial muscles of the blacksmith; an

The poor of Scranton loved him better than they did anyone they knew. His acts were often "hidden under a bushel," sin

nly respectable man in all Scranton who did. Perhaps he admired Nick's muscular build, and believed he w

natured and honest, saw deeper into that bad boy's soul than ordinary people, judging

it only another odd fad on the part of the deacon. They prophesied that he would sooner or later he sorry for having anything to do with such a good-for-nothing scapegrace

sked them to step in and sit with him before his cheery fire,

he had been reading that wonderful story of Jean Valjean; and then what a stran

d, if one could judge from the way he rubbed his hands together, and nodded his head

ed, for, as Hugh explained, he believed it had a great deal to do with

delight as he gazed at Hugh. The boy could not help thinking that the good priest in the story must have been a whole lot like old Deacon Winslow;

o feel that there were elements of great good in him, if only he could be brought to book, and made to change his ways of life. He must have a new viewpoint of human nature, to start with. I thought I might arouse him through talking, and fatherly advice,

he had done when he heard the old

come out here and help you last night. Were you expecting him? Was Saturday night the one he generally took to come and help y

swer before the old man even opened his lips.

yesterday afternoon he dropped in to see me here, with his skates dangling across his shoulder, as if he had been skating. He said he would like very

clever of Nick. You agreed, of cou

work to want to make the change. So I told him to be along as usual about seven, as I had a raft of work on hand that w

sitively then, sir,-t

u

morning. Then as he was quitting Nick asked me again just what time it was, and I consulted my reliable watch. I can see now that possibly Nick had an object in impressing the time on my mind, so I could sa

ne after all. Hugh felt he should like to know the big amiable b

ad to town, "the way things seem to be working, I'm mo