“I have already called upon your father,” said Mr. Armstrong.

“I am very sorry your bonds were stolen, Mr. Armstrong.”

“Not more than I am, I assure you,” returned Mr. Armstrong, with a quizzical smile.

“Could I speak with you a moment in private, sir?” asked Randolph, with a significant glance at Luke.

“Certainly; Luke, will you cross the road a minute?  Now, young man!”

“Probably you don’t know that the boy you are walking with was suspected of taking the box from the bank.”

“I have heard so; but he was acquitted of the charge, wasn’t he?”

“My father still believes that he had something to do with it, and so do I,” added Randolph, with an emphatic nod of his head.

“Isn’t he a friend of yours?” asked Mr. Armstrong quietly.

“No, indeed; we go to the same school, though father thinks of sending me to an academy out of town soon, but there is no friendship between us.  He is only a working boy.”

“Humph!  That is very much against him,” observed Mr. Armstrong, but it was hard to tell from his tone whether he spoke in earnest or ironically.

“Oh, well, he has to work, for the family is very poor.  He’s come out in new clothes and a silver watch since the robbery.  He says the strange man from whom he received a tin box just like yours gave them to him.”

“And you think he didn’t get them in that way?”

“Yes, I think they were leagued together.  I feel sure that man robbed the bank.”

“Dear me, it does look suspicious!” remarked Armstrong.

“If Luke was guiding you to the train, I will take his place, sir.”

“Thank you, but perhaps I had better keep him with me, and cross-examine him a little.  I suppose I can depend upon your keeping your eyes upon him, and letting me know of any suspicious conduct on his part?”

“Yes, sir, I will do it with pleasure,” Randolph announced promptly.  He felt sure that he had excited Mr. Armstrong’s suspicions, and defeated any plans Luke might have cherished of getting in with the capitalist.

“Have you anything more to communicate?” asked Mr. Armstrong, politely.

“No, sir; I thought it best to put you on your guard.”

“I quite appreciate your motives, Master Randolph.  I shall keep my eyes open henceforth, and hope in time to discover the real perpetrator of the robbery.  Now, Luke.”

“I have dished you, young fellow!” thought Randolph, with a triumphant glance at the unconscious Luke.  He walked away in high self-satisfaction.

“Luke,” said Mr. Armstrong, as they resumed their walk, “Randolph seems a very warm friend of yours.”

“I never thought so,” said Luke, with an answering smile.  “I am glad if he has changed.”

“What arrangements do you think I have made with him?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“I have asked him to keep his eye on you, and, if he sees anything suspicious, to let me know.”