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206 than to make a scene on the street and be arrested. He wanted that least of all things.

"I'll go with you," he said, "though you have no right to make me, and I didn't take your money."

"What's the matter?" asked the fruit man, who had hired Ned to assist in unloading the truck.

"Nothing much," replied Cassidy. "This lad owes me some money and I'll make him work it out."

"That's your affair," the fruit man replied. "He's earned half a dollar working for me. Here it is."

He was about to hand it to Ned, but Cassidy took it.

"I'll apply that on account," he said grimly, as he marched Ned away.

The whole affair had occurred so suddenly that Ned did not know what to do. He was in a sort of dream. The appearance of Cassidy, the confiscation of the half dollar and the lodging house keeper's evident intention of holding the boy to account for a theft he had never committed, made Ned think he was doomed to misfortune, no matter what he did to avoid it.

Then followed a natural desire to escape. He