and his belief in the boy's honesty. Hugh remembered some of the
things that were being said around town concerning the old man of the
dismal place called the "Rookery." His aversion to meeting people, as
well as other odd traits about him, had caused no end of talk. Some
even said they were not Americans, but foreigners, English possibly.

Altogether Hugh felt considerably exercised. He shut his teeth hard
together, however, and told himself that no matter how many suspicious
circumstances seemed to surround Owen, he would still continue to have
faith in the boy.

"Whenever I think of Owen's clear eyes," he told Thad, "and the way
they look you fair and square in the face, I feel positive that boy
can't be a sneak and a thief. No one with such honest eyes could do
mean things. Such fellows are patterned on a different model nearly
always."

"Well, I've believed a good deal as you do myself, Hugh," admitted
Thad. "Just take that Leon Disney, for instance. There's a chap who
never could look straight at any one he was talking to."

"You're right, Thad. He keeps on shifting his eyes up and down all the
while. I've often noticed it about Leon, and made up my mind it was an
uneasy conscience that made him act so."

"Then, after all I've told you, Hugh, you still believe in Owen?"

"I'm going to hold firm until the evidence is all in," said the other.

"You're a good friend, I must say," Thad hastened to observe, a gleam