"
"That's too thin. How was it traced to Luke?"
"It seems Old Maid Sprague"--it was lucky for Melinda's
peace of mind that she did not hear this contemptuous reference
to her--"went to the Widow Larkin's house one day and saw
the tin box in her trunk."
"She didn't leave the trunk open, did she?"
"No; but she had it open, looking into it, when old Melinda
crept upstairs softly and caught her at it."
"I suppose Luke will have to go to State's prison,"
said Randolph, with a gratified smile.
"I hope it won't be quite so bad as that," said Sam, who was
not equal in malice to his aristocratic friend.
"I haven't any pity for him," said Randolph, decidedly.
"If he chooses to steal, he must expect to be punished."
Just then Mr. Hooper, the grammer-school teacher, came up.
"Mr. Hooper," said Randolph, eagerly, "have you heard
about Luke?"
"I have heard that he has been removed from his janitorship,
and I'm sorry for it."
"If he goes to jail he wouldn't be able to be janitor,"
said Randolph.
"Goes to jail! What do you mean?" demanded the teacher, sharply.
Hereupon Randolph told the story, aided and assisted by Sam
Noble, to whom he referred as his authority.
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