"I'll get even with you yet!" said Graham furiously; but our hero was not disturbed by this menace.
Vincent, meantime, was making a tour of observation, ready for any adventure that might put an honest or dishonest penny into his pocket. About half an hour later he found himself on the leading retail street in Cincinnati. In front of him walked a lady, fashionably attired, holding a mother-of-pearl portemonnaie carelessly in her hand. He brushed by her, and at the same moment the pocketbook was snatched from her hand.
The lady screamed, and instinctively clutched Vincent by the arm.
"This man has robbed me, I think," she said. The crowd began to gather about Vincent, and he saw that he was cornered. Among the crowd, unluckily for himself, was Tom. By a skilful movement Vincent thrust the portemonnaie into our hero's pocket.
"You are mistaken, madam," he said coolly; "I saw that boy take your money."
Instantly two men seized Tom.
"Search him," said Vincent, "and see it I am not right."
The portemonnaie was taken from Tom's pocket, amid the hootings of the crowd.
"So young, and yet so wicked!" said the lady regretfully.
"I didn't take the money, madam," protested Tom, his face scarlet with surprise and mortification.