He came forward promptly, saying:
“There is no occasion to suspect this boy. He is all right.”
“Do you know him?” asked the proprietor politely.
“Yes, I know him well. He is in the employ of a gentleman at Cook’s Harbor, as he says. You can safely sell him the clothes.”
The young man spoke so positively that all suspicion was removed.
“I am glad to learn that it is all right,” said the clothing merchant. “My young friend, I am sorry to have suspected you. We shall be glad to sell you the suit, and to recompense you for the brief inconvenience we will take off two dollars from the price.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“It would not do for us to receive stolen money, hence our caution.”
Robert did not bear malice, and he accepted the apology and dressed himself in the suit referred to, which very much changed his appearance for the better.
In fact, but for his hat and shoes, he looked like a city boy of a well-to-do family.