“I haven’t stole any wallet,” protested Bobby, who now understood the whole affair.

The names of the two boys were taken, and warrants procured for their detention.  They were searched, and upon Tom was found the lost wallet, and upon Bobby two ten dollar bills, which, the loser was willing to swear had been in the wallet.  The evidence therefore was conclusive, and they were both sent to jail.

Poor Bobby! the inmate of a prison!

The law took its course, and in due time both of them were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the State Reform School.  Bobby was innocent, but he could not make his innocence appear.  He had been the companion of Tom, the real thief, and part of the money had been found upon his person.  Tom was too mean to exonerate him, and even had the hardihood to exult over his misfortune.

At the end of three days they reached the town in which the Reform School is located, and were duly committed for their long term.

Poor Bobby!

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN WHICH BOBBY TAKES FRENCH LEAVE, AND CAMPS IN THE WOODS.

The intelligence of Bobby’s misfortune reached Mr. Bayard, in Boston, by means of the newspapers.  To the country press an item is a matter of considerable importance, and the alleged offence against the peace and dignity of the State of Maine was duly heralded to the inquiring public as a “daring robbery.”  The reporter who furnished the facts in the case for publication was not entirely devoid of that essential qualification of the country item writer, a lively imagination, and was obliged to dress up the particulars a little, in order to produce the necessary amount of wonder and indignation.  It was stated that one of the two young men had been prowling about the place for several days, ostensibly for the purpose of selling books, but really with the intention of stealing whatever he could lay his hands upon.  It was suggested that the boys were in league with an organized band of robbers, whose nefarious purposes would be defeated by the timely arrest of these young villains.  The paper hinted that further depredations would probably be discovered, and warned people to beware of ruffians strolling about the country in the guise of pedlers.

The writer of this thrilling paragraph must have had reason to believe that he had discharged his whole duty to the public, and that our hero was duly branded as a desperate fellow.  No doubt he believed Bobby was an awful monster; for at the conclusion of his remarks he introduced some severe strictures on the lenity of the magistrate, because he had made the sentence two years, instead of five, which the writer thought the atrocious crime deserved.  But, then, the justice differed from him in politics, which may account for the severity of the article.

Mr. Bayard read this precious paragraph with mingled grief and indignation.  He understood the case at a glance.  Tom Spicer had joined him, and the little merchant had been involved in his crime.  He was sure that Bobby had had no part in stealing the money.  One so noble and true as he had been could not steal, he reasoned.  It was contrary to experience, contrary to common sense.