"I live on Indiana Avenue," explained the latter. "We shall find a car at the corner of State and Madison Streets."
As they walked to the car, Bert's new friend asked: "How long have you been on the stage, Mr. Barton?"
"Only two weeks."
"You don't mean that that comprises your whole experience."
"Yes. I stepped in at Harrisburg to supply the place of a young actor who was taken sick."
"You act as if you had been trained to it. But how came you to be at Harrisburg? That is not your home?"
"No. As you were my father's friend, I will tell you what brought me out there."
Bert briefly related the story that is already known to the reader. Hiram French listened with great attention.
"I remember Ralph Harding," he said. "He was not popular among his shopmates, especially after his agency in throwing suspicion upon your father."
"Was it generally thought that my father was guilty?" asked Bert.