"He's wan of the gang," persisted the officer, sullenly. "I've seen him ivery day for the last three months."
"Mr. Sergeant," said the former speaker, "this officer is guilty of willful falsehood. I know the boy as well as I know my own son, and I know that he has passed the last three months in the country."
"The boy is discharged," said the officer. He added, sharply: "Officer Flynn, I expect the truth from you in future. The boy you have arrested is much more respectable in appearance than his accuser, and, under the circumstances, I cannot attach any credit to your charge against him. Be more careful in future."
With sullen reluctance, the officer, who is a type of a considerable number on the force, but not of all, released Ben.
Our hero walked up to the gentleman whose testimony had been of so much value to him, and warmly thanked him.
"I was in a bad scrape," he said, "and I don't know how I would have come out of it if you had not spoken for me."
"I chanced to see you in charge, and followed as soon as I could," said Mr. Woodbury. "What luck are you meeting with in New York, Ben?"
"Not much, yet; but don't say anything to mother about your meeting me here, or she may be worried. I shall make every effort to get something to do here. If I can't, I may be obliged to go home."
"Well, Ben, I wish you good luck. I must now leave you, as I have several business calls to make."
Ben emerged from the station-house feeling that he had made a lucky escape. The boys who had followed him (Mike and his friends) had vanished, on finding that things did not turn out as they expected, fearing that they might get into trouble themselves.