The train was only partly full, and Rupert found a seat near the door. He placed the basket on the floor in front of him.
Next to him sat a young woman rather showily dressed. Rupert casually took out the purse which had just been given him with the intention of examining the contents, but it occurred to him that he might find a more suitable place than an Elevated car, and he put it back again. His actions had, however, been noticed by the girl at his side.
At Fiftieth Street she rose to leave the car, but had not quite reached the door when she put her hand into her pocket and uttered a cry.
"I have been robbed," she exclaimed.
"Of what have you been robbed?" asked the guard.
"Of a purse."
"Where were you sitting?"
"Just here."
"Do you suspect anyone of taking your purse?"
"Yes, this boy took it. I am almost sure of it."
As she spoke she pointed to Rupert, who flushed with indignation.
"It is false," he said.
"If you don't believe me," said the girl, "search him. I am sure he has the purse in his pocket."
"What kind of a purse was it?" asked a quiet-looking man, sitting on the opposite side.
"It was a morocco purse," and the girl described the purse Rupert had in his pocket.
"Young man we will have to search you," said the guard. "If you have a purse in your pocket, produce it."
Rupert did so mechanically.
"There!" said the girl, triumphantly. "Didn't I tell you? Give it to me and I won't say anything more about it."
"I can't do that," said Rupert, sturdily, "for it belongs to me."
"What barefaced depravity!" groaned a severe-looking old lady opposite. "And so young, too."
"You're right, ma'am. It's shocking," said the girl. "I didn't think he'd go to do it, but you can't tell from appearances."
"Young man, you'd better give up the purse," said the guard, who was quite deceived by the young woman's assurance.
"No, sir!" said Rupert, pale but resolute. "The purse is mine, and I will keep it."
"Did you ever hear the like!" said the girl. "You'd better call an officer. I did mean to get off here, but I'll stay till I get my purse."
"Stop a minute," said the quiet-looking man opposite. "How much money was there in the purse you say the boy took from you?"
"I can't rightly say," repeated the girl, hesitating.
"You can give some idea."
"Well, there was a little over two dollars in silver change."
"My boy," said the new actor in the scene, "will you trust me with the purse while I ascertain whether this young woman is correct."
"Yes, sir," answered Rupert, who felt confidence in the good will of his new acquaintance.
The lawyer, for he was one, opened the purse, and his eye lighted up, as he looked inside.
"Did you say there was as much as five dollars in the purse?" he asked.
"No, sir, there wasn't as much as that," answered the girl, positively.
The lawyer nodded as if a suspicion were verified.
"Then the purse isn't yours," he said.
"There may have been more," said the girl, finding she had made a mistake. "Yes, I remember now there was, for my sister paid me back some money she was owing me."
"That won't do," said the lawyer, quietly. "The purse isn't yours."
"If it isn't hers," said the old lady sharply, "how did she happen to describe it so exactly?" and she looked round triumphantly.
"I could have described it just as accurately," returned the lawyer.
"You're smart!" said the severe-looking old lady, with a sneer.
"Not at all. Soon after the boy got in the car he took out the purse, so that anyone could see it. The person who charges him with taking it from her saw it in his hands, and scrutinized it closely. I understand now the object she had in doing so."
"It's a shame," said the girl, with a last desperate effort at imposition. "It's a shame that a poor girl should be robbed, and a gentleman like you," she added spitefully, "should try to protect the thief."
"So I say," put in the old lady, frowning severely at Rupert. "I don't know who you are, young woman, but I advise you to call an officer and have the young scamp arrested."
Rupert felt uneasy, for he knew that in an arrest like this he might not be able to clear himself.
"Why don't you ask the boy how much money there is in the purse?" continued the old lady.
"Well thought of. My boy, can you tell me what the purse contains?"
Rupert colored. He saw at once that he was in a tight place. He wished now that he had examined the purse when he left the house in Harlem.
"No," he answered. "I do not know."
"Didn't I tell you?" cried the old lady, venomously.
Even the lawyer looked surprised.
"How is it that you can't tell, if the purse is yours?" he asked.
"Because, sir, it was given me this evening by a gentleman in Harlem, and I have not yet had time to examine it."
"Your story may be true," said the lawyer, "but it does not seem probable."
"Oho!" the old lady said, "the boy owns up that he is a thief. If he didn't get it from this young woman he stole it from a man in Harlem."
Rupert glanced from one to the other, and he realized that things looked dark for him.
CHAPTER IV.
A FALSE REPORT
"What was the name of the gentleman in Harlem from whom you say you obtained the purse?" asked the lawyer.
"Mr. Frank Sylvester," answered Rupert, promptly.
The lawyer looked interested.
"I know Mr. Sylvester," he said. "I live on the same street."
"He gave me this basket of provisions also," added Rupert.
"Why did he give you the purse?"
"Because I met him down town feeling ill, and at his request went home with him."
"The boy is all right," said the lawyer, looking satisfied. "Here is the purse. It is undoubtedly yours."
"And where do I come in?" asked the young woman. "Is that boy going off with my money?"
Just then they reached the next station, and among those who boarded the train was a policeman. The girl evidently recognized him, for she turned away to escape attention.
Before the officer had a chance to speak to her the old lady broke in with:
"Policeman, there's a poor girl been robbed of her purse by that boy, and that gentleman there is protecting him."
The policeman laughed.
"So, Kate, you have had your purse stolen, have you?" he asked.
The girl looked embarrassed.
"I may be mistaken," she admitted.
"I am afraid you have been up to one of your tricks."
"Do you know the girl?" asked the lawyer.
"I have arrested her more than once for playing a confidence game. It is only three weeks since I had her up before the Jefferson Market Police Court."
"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the old lady, astounded.
The girl sprang from her seat when the next station was reached, and hastily left the car.
"My