“So have I,” said Oscar; “I should like to have you show me a boy that’s got more pluck than I have, when I get stirred up.”

“Pooh, you don’t know what pluck is, neither of you,” replied Edward.  “What would you do if a policeman should nab you?”

“I should run, just as you did, when the man caught you stealing fruit,” said Oscar, with a laugh.  “That’s a specimen of your pluck, aint it?”

“But what is the speculation you were telling about?” inquired Alfred.

“I guess I shan’t tell you about it now,” replied Edward.  “I ’m afraid you would n’t keep it to yourselves.”

“Yes we will. I will at any rate,” said Alfred.

“So will I,” added Oscar.

“If I let you into the secret, and you should blab it out, I would n’t mind killing both of you,” said Edward, with forced gravity, which he could not long maintain, it gradually relaxing into a smile.  “I mean what I say,” he added, “you needn’t laugh at it.”

Both the others renewed their promise to keep the matter a secret; but Edward, after talking about his scheme a quarter of an hour longer, and exciting the curiosity of the others to the highest point, finally informed them that he could not let them into the secret then, but that he would tell them all about it in a few days, if he was sure that they would keep it to themselves.

Oscar saw Edward almost every day, and often inquired about his speculation, but got no definite answer.  He and Alfred both felt very curious to know what it was; but though expectation was on tiptoe, it was not gratified.  Edward assured them, however, that things were nearly ready, and that in a few days he would let them into the mysterious scheme.

Oscar’s uncle, from Brookdale, was now in the city, and was stopping for a few days at Mr. Preston’s.  He no sooner arrived, than Oscar applied to his parents for permission to return with him to Maine; but they did not give much encouragement to his proposal, although his uncle said he should like to have him make his family another visit.  Oscar, however, daily renewed his request, for he believed that he should yet accomplish his object by teasing.

The day before Oscar’s uncle was to return to his home, a gentleman called into Mr. Preston’s store, and told him he wished to see him alone.  Having with drawn to a private room, the stranger introduced himself as an officer of the police.

“You have a son fourteen or fifteen years old?” inquired the officer.

“Yes, I have,” replied Mr. Preston.

“Are you aware that he is getting into bad company?” continued the officer.

“No, sir,” said Mr. Preston.