"He and Billy Darnley robbed my news stand last night."
"Robbed your stand!" Mrs. Snocks grew very pale. "Can this be true?"
"Yes, ma'am, it is." And Nelson gave the particulars once more.
"Too bad!" cried the woman, and, dropping on a kitchen chair, she covered her face with her apron.
Nelson saw that she was suffering keenly, and felt sorry for her.
"It's that Darnley boy," she said presently. "He is a bad egg and is leading our Len astray. My husband and I have warned Len time and time again to let Billy alone; but he won't mind, and Billy leads him into all kinds of mischief."
"Well, I'm sorry for you, ma'am, but we have got to have our stuff back."
"How much was it worth?"
"About seventy-five dollars."
"Oh, dear! I'm sure I don't know what to do."