? ? ? ? "Why wouldn't he?"
? ? ? ? "Because he discharged Ropes. Do you want to know why?"
? ? ? ? "Yes."
? ? ? ? "For stealing articles from the store."
? ? ? ? It was the turn of James Hicks to be surprised.
? ? ? ? "I can't believe it," he said.
? ? ? ? "Its true. Just mention the matter to Ropes, and you'll see he won't deny it."
? ? ? ? "I think there must be some mistake about it. Rodney doesn't look like a fellow that would steal."
? ? ? ? "Oh, you can't tell from appearances--Rogues are always plausible."
? ? ? ? "Still mistakes are sometimes made. I'd trust Rodney Ropes sooner than any boy I know."
? ? ? ? "You don't know him as well as I do."
? ? ? ? "You don't like him?" said James shrewdly.
? ? ? ? "No I don't. I can't like a thief."
? ? ? ? "You talk as if you had a grudge against him."
? ? ? ? "Nothing but his being a thief. Well, what are you going to do about it?"
? ? ? ? "About what?"
? ? ? ? "What I have just told you.
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