The Erie Train Boy Author:Horatio Alger Jr. Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Lynch House, and I thought it might excite suspicion if we both went away together at so early an hour in the morning." 'Mr. Palmer," said Fred warmly, "you k... more »now perfectly well that all these statements are false, and that I never met you or had anything to do with you till last evening." " It won't do, Fred !" said the burglar. " Yon and I are in the same boat. You are a boy, and will probably get a lighter sentence than I. But you shouldn't go back on your old pal like this." "Do you believe that man, Mr. Ferguson?" asked Fred with a troubled look. " Xo, but I shall be obliged to hold you till I produce him in court to-morrow." CHAPTER XVII. TWO YOUNG LADY PASSENGERS AT ODDS. Ferguson' produced a pair of handcuffs and pinioned the wrists of his captive. Palmer protested against the humiliation, but Ferguson said quietly : " You are too important a prisoner for me to run any risks." " Are you going to handcuff him ?" asked the burglar, indicating Fred. " No." " Why not ? Why should you treat him better than me ? " " I don't think he is guilty ; but even if he is I am not afraid of his running away." " You are deceived in him. He looks innocent enough, but he has been concerned in a dozen burglaries." "I hear considerable news about myself," said Fred, "but the truth will come out at last." As the party passed through the streets they naturally attracted considerable attention. Though a criminal, Palmer had for years evaded arrest, and he felt mortified at the position in which he was placed. He reflected bitterly that but for the mistake of the hotel clerk, he might be at ease with his booty on the Canada side. As it was, things seemed to have worked steadily against him, notwithstanding his clever schemes. A long term of imprisonment sta...« less