Harry considered such conduct despicable, and thought the man who would take such unfair advantage of a poor boy might be capable of any infamy; and Dick, encouraged, crept a little nearer.

‘I say,’ he whispered insinuatingly.  ’You could get him any day on the flat, when he comes over after searchin’ the day shift.’

Harry shook his head, and slowly plucked at the dry bark.

‘I don’t mean to touch him,’ he said.

Dick was amazed, and a little hurt, perhaps.  His confidence had been violated in some measure.  He thought the matter over for almost a minute.

‘Ain’t you goin’ to go fer him ‘cause of her, eh?’ he asked.

‘Her?  Who d’you mean?’

‘Miss Chris.’

‘It’s nothin’ to do with her.’

Dick deliberated again.

‘Look here, she was cryin’ after you went this mornin’.  Saw her hidin’ her face by the harmonium, an’ wipin’ her eyes.’

Harry had not heard evidently; he was, it would appear, devoting his whole attention to the antics of a blue grub.  Dick approached still closer, and assumed the tone of an arch-conspirator.

’Heard anything ‘bout Mr. Frank?’

‘Not a thing, Dick.’

‘What yer goin’ to do?’

‘I can’t say, my boy.’

‘Well, I’ll tell you.  Know what Sagacious done?’

‘Sagacious?  Who is he?’

‘Sam Sagacious—­Sleuth-hound Sam.’

Harry looked puzzled.

’What, don’t you know Sleuth-hound Sam?  He’s a great feller in a book, what tracks down criminals.  Listen here.  One time a chap what was a mate of his got put in gaol for stealin’ money from a bank where he worked, when it wasn’t him at all.  Sam, he went an’ got a job at the same bank, and that’s how he found out the coves ‘at done it.’

The young man turned upon Dick, and sat for a moment following up the inference.  Then he gripped the latter’s hand.

‘By thunder!’ he cried excitedly, ’that’s a better idea than I could hit on in a week.’

Dick did not doubt it; he had but a poor opinion of the resourcefulness of his elders when not figuring in the pages of romantic literature, but he was gratified by Harry’s ready recognition of his talent, and proceeded to enlarge upon the peculiar qualities of Sleuth-hound Sam, give instances of his methods, and relate some of his many successes.

At tea that evening Harry broached the subject of his visit to the chapel.  He knew his mother would hear of it, and thought it best she should have the melancholy story from his lips.

‘Do you see much of Shine’s daughter, mother?’ he asked.

’I do not see her often, but she has grown into a tall, handsome girl; very different from the wild little thing you rescued from the cattle on the common eight years ago.’

‘Yes; I’ve seen her—­saw her in the chapel this morning.’

‘In the chapel,’ said Mrs. Hardy, turning upon him with surprise; ’were you in the chapel, Henry?’