"I have been accustomed to judge of the newsboys by my son. Are there many bad boys among them?"
"Many of them are honest, hard-working boys, but there are some black sheep among them. I know one boy who tried to commit highway robbery, stopping a person whom he had seen with money."
"Did he get caught?"
"No, he failed of his purpose, and no complaint was made of him, though his intended victim knew who his assailant was."
"I am glad of that. It would have been hard for his poor mother if he had been convicted and sent to prison."
This Mrs. Walton said without a suspicion that it was Luke that the boy had tried to rob. When Luke heard his mother's comment he was glad that he had agreed to overlook Tom's fault.
The next morning Luke went as usual to the vicinity of the Sherman House, and began to sell papers. He looked in vain for Tom Brooks, who did not show up.
"Where is Tom Brooks?" he asked of one of Tom's friends.
"Tom's goin' to try another place," said the boy. "He says there's too many newsboys round this corner. He thinks he can do better somewheres else."
"Where is he? Do you know?"