The Chums of Scranton High

e was very peculiar in some ways, and the very first thought that flashed into the boy's mind was to the eff

and she appeared to be very much in earnest. More to humor

an do anything for you I'll be only too glad of

may be more than their powers of resistance can stand, and they are irresistibly impelled to take something that excites their cupidity. I am prone to believe most of them find it possible to resist such an inclination. Still, alas! I have kn

, beginning to realize now that "where there was smoke there must be a fire," and that after all ther

boy chanced to be in my house. Oh! it is too bad, too bad! A

ny assistance to you, Mrs. Pangborn, unless I know the fact

ieces came in from those kind ladies of Scranton who are helping me sew for the brave wounded poilus of my country, valiant France. This lad brought in a package which Mrs. Ackerman had given into his charge. I rem

ed a sudden shock. Possibly his thoughts flew instantly toward one particular boy who happened to hav

into the other room, which also opens into the front hall. Something impelled me to idly count over some souvenir spoons that I have per

eep them there on a table so as to show them to some of my kind lady friends, for I am particularly pro

s at the time she cleaned them. She assured me solemnly that the entire tw

same time I remembered the visit of that lad, who had never been in my house before, and how he might have glanced into the drawing-room through accident, and seeing

my ugly suspicions in the charm of his manly conversation, until some time after he had gone, again, at my suggestion, letting himself out. I hurried into

so tremendously intereste

y mistake, Mrs. Pangborn?" he asked,

Hugh," she quickly told him. "You can use the connecting doo

inute later. His f

not bring himself to believe it was as bad as the old lady suspected; that there must be some other and reaso

and that colored girl is as honest as your own mother, I feel positive. Ple

best to learn where your property went, Mrs. Pangborn; and

I were compelled to have that poor, weak boy arrested, and charged with so grievous a breach of the law. You being a boy may be able to have a certain amount of in

ately, "I want to add that I can't believe it possible Owen Dugdale could be so sm

r how circumstantial evidence may seem to blacken their characters. And my son, if only you can find an explanation of this puzzle that will exonerate your young companion, I

Wambold, who everybody knows has a great itching to shine as a wonderful sleuth, bu

vely gems, diamonds, rubies and pearls, for like most French women, the Madame was more than commonly fond of jewelry. "

lf on being something of a reader of human nature, I feel almost certain that there must be a great mistake somewhere; and that wh

yet, if the truth were known, he did not feel quite so positive as his words would indicate. Things certainly looked dark for the Du

"Only good words have come to me about you from all those with whom I converse; for though you may think it odd in an old woman who never had a son of her own, I have all my life been interested in other peop

that chanced to occur to him. Th

e whether Owen is innocent or guilty. You see I could be hidden in that room and a trap set, you sending him word to call for a package you wished him to deliver. Then

o be the case, for somehow I have taken a great interest in Owen Dugdale. I mean later on to find an opportunity to meet that wonderful grandfather of his, for somehow I sus

use; but of course he did not say anything about that. He went out of Madame Pangborn's big house with a sense of having undertaken a gre