“There was some ground for it,” said Luke candidly.  “A tin box, of the same appearance as the one lost, was seen in our house.  I was arrested on suspicion, and tried.”

“You don’t say so!  How did you prove your innocence?”

“The gentleman who gave me the box in charge appeared and testified in my favor.  But for that I am afraid I should have fared badly.”

“That is curious.  Who was the gentleman?”

Luke gave a rapid history of the circumstances already known to the reader.

“I am glad to hear this, being principally interested in the matter.  However, I never should have suspected you.  I claim to be something of a judge of character and physiognomy, and your appearance is in your favor.  Your mother is a widow, I believe?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you are the janitor of the schoolhouse?”

Mr. Armstrong was a close observer, and though having large interests of his own, made himself familiar with the affairs of those whom others in his position would wholly have ignored.

“I was janitor,” Luke replied, “but when Mr. Duncan became a member of the school committee he removed me.”

“For what reason?” asked Mr. Armstrong quickly.

“I don’t think he ever liked me, and his son Randolph and I have never been good friends.”

“You mean Mr. Duncan, the president of the bank?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Why are not you and his son friends?”

“I don’t know, sir.  He has always been in the habit of sneering at me as a poor boy—­a working boy—­and unworthy to associate with him.”

“You don’t look like a poor boy.  You are better dressed than I was at your age.  Besides, you have a watch, I judge from the chain.”

“Yes, sir; but all that is only lately.  I have found a good friend who has been very kind to me.”

“Who is he?”

“Roland Reed, the owner of the tin box I referred to.”

“Roland Reed!  I never heard the name.  Where is he from?”

“From the West, I believe, though at present he is staying in New York.”

“How much were you paid as janitor?”

“A dollar a week.”

“That is very little.  Is the amount important to you?”

“No, sir, not now.”  And then Luke gave particulars of the good fortune of the family in having secured a profitable boarder, and, furthermore, in obtaining for himself profitable employment.

“This Mr. Reed seems to be a kind-hearted and liberal man.  I am glad for your sake.  I sympathize with poor boys.  Can you guess the reason?”

“Were you a poor boy yourself, sir?”

“I was, and a very poor boy.  When I was a boy of thirteen and fourteen I ran around in overalls and bare-footed.  But I don’t think it did me any harm,” the old man added, musingly.  “It kept me from squandering money on foolish pleasures, for I had none to spend; it made me industrious and self-reliant, and when I obtained employment it made me anxious to please my employer.”