"You'll do," he said, in high satisfaction.
"Dost thee feel sure, friend Stephen?"
"Oh, you're too funny for anything! Shall I go with you to the depot?"
"Not for a hundred dollars! It would destroy my reputation as a grave and upright Quaker to be seen in such disreputable company. I will go my ways alone, friend Stephen, but anon I will return and favor thee with a report of my success. If I don't fail, that young brother of yours will spend the night at the station-house."
"When he is tried I'll go and see it. It'll be nuts to me to see the young sneak tried for theft."
"I'll do my best to carry out your kind wishes for his welfare."
So Luke Denton set out on his errand, and we already know how he fared—how into the pit which he dug for another he fell himself. It was he and not Paul that spent the night in confinement.
Stephen waited impatiently for his return. He was eager to hear the details of the scheme, which he did not doubt would turn out as he wished. He wanted to hear how Paul acted when confronted with the charge of theft, and was impatient to have the afternoon pass away and Denton return.
But he waited in vain an hour or more after the train should be in, and still his friend did not appear. Still, he did not dream that Denton himself had got into trouble, and was hindered by circumstances which he could not control from coming round to see him.
As time passed he became more restless and anxious.