It will not be necessary to give a circumstantial account of Ben's trial. Mr. Sampson was faithful to his promise, and presented himself, somewhat to his personal inconvenience, at the early hour assigned for trial. His testimony was brief and explicit, and cleared Ben. The real pickpocket, however, being recognized by the judge as one who had been up before him some months before, charged with a similar offence, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, considerably to his dissatisfaction.
Ben left the court-room well pleased with the result. His innocence had been established, and he had proved that he could be trusted, or rather, he had not proved faithless to his trust, and he felt that with his present plans and hopes he could not afford to lose his character for honesty. He knew that he had plenty of faults, but at any rate he was not a thief.
While he stood on the steps of the Tombs, in which the trial had taken place, Mr. Sampson advanced towards him, and touched him on the shoulder.
"Well, my lad," he said, in a friendly manner, "so you're all right once more?"
"Yes," said Ben; "I knew it would all be right in the morning."
"I owe you something for the inconvenience you have suffered while in my employ. Here is a ten-dollar bill. I hope you will save it till you need it, and won't spend it foolishly."
"Thank you," said Ben, joyfully. "I'll put it in the bank."
"That will be a good plan. Good-morning; when you need a friend, you will know where to find me."
He shook Ben's hand in a friendly way and left him.
"He's a trump," thought Ben. "If my father'd treated me like that, I'd never have wanted to run away from home."