The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-08


next day and told him he had yio-
lated one of the school rules and was
very sorry. Is that the cause for
your black eyer the principal asked.
Stephen told him it was. What was
the name of the other boy?' the prin-
cipal asked. Stephen said he couldn' I
tell him that. Then run along,
said the principal and don't forget
that you have two examinations to-
morrow And Stephen has heard no
more about the fight"
| I'D like to know who told the
principal?" said Henry Appleton.
Stephen didn't know"
81 wonder if 1t could have been
Jim Strong?"
81 hope it was" said his wife.
'Whosoever told was careful not to
| throw any blame on Stephen"
which, of course, is greatly to his
credit" said Henry Appleton. "And
] hope it was Jim Strong"
Henry Appleton was a busy man
His work required close attention.
He was quite too busyto interest him
self in Stephen Bruce.
One night his wife told him that
Stephen wanted a favor.
Lets hear it," Appleton re-
sponded
He wants you to let him use the
upper room of the stable. He has
cleaned it out nicely. He wants to
have school friend or two visit him
there"
He'll set fire to the place won't
he?"
''He seems careful"
"Very well. Tell him he can use
It,"
'I'll thank you for him, Henry"
So that was settled and then Henry
Appleton forgot all about it,
But one morning Judge Strong
came into his office.
How are you, Appleton?
dropped in on n little personal busi-
ness"
You are always welcome, Judge.
Take chair"
The judge hesltated.
ITS about Jim," he said.
Nothing wrong?"
81 don't know"
"But thought Jim was doing bet
ter"
He has done better. l hoped the
reform would be permanent"
"And what is the trouble?"
81 wish | knew. He seems to be
completely under the influence of
that hired boy of yours"
Henry Appleton looked around
quickly.
"And you think the influence is a
bad one?"
''I'm afraid it is. / can't quite i'm
agine that Jim would be fascinated
by a good inhuence-more's the
pity"
This is all news to me, judge"
said Henry Appleton. "And I'm a
little slow TO believe that Stephen
Bruce is a bad companion for your
jim"
The judge nodded.
81 see your point" he said, "but
that doesn't relieve my mind. Those
boys, Jim and your hired lad, meet
somewhere nearly every night. I've
no idea what they do. Perhaps they
gamble"
Have you talked to Jim?"
"Yes, in a guarded way. He has
an unreasonable temper. / have to
be very careful. What does your boy
do evenings?"
II don't KNOW" Appleton an
swered. II don't see anything of
him"
And then he remembered some
thing and suddenly frowned.
by George" he said, 81 guess /
know their rendezvous"
Where is it?" the judge eagerly
asked.
IN let you know later. I'll take
you there this evening. We will root
out this mystery together"
Yes, yes said the Judge. "Where
shall we meet?"
ION my porch. Be there at $780,"
"All right" said the Judge.
1t was a dark evening and the two
Investigators had little fear of de-
lection.
Henry Appleton was waiting for
the judge.
"The place of rendezvous is my
stable" he said, "and / think your
boy Jim is there now. Come"
They stole around the house and
up the driveway.
There was light in the upper win
dow of the stable.
Appleton pointed to it.
There is a ladder back of the
stable" he whispered. Help me
with it."
Then the two men carefully raised
the ladder to the window.
"I'll go up first" said Appleton.
q M