Part 22 (1/2)
”A good plan.” said Paul. ”When are you coming?”
”To-night.”
”Very well; I'll be ready for you. Is there any change in the evening?”
”No. They're comin' Monday night.”
”I'll be ready for them,” said Paul.
”What are you goin' to do?” asked Julius, and he fixed a pair of sharp, black eyes on Paul.
”Can I trust you, Julius?” demanded Paul, with a keen glance at the boy.
”Yes,” said Julius.
”Then,” said Paul, ”I mean to have them arrested. They'll walk into a trap.”
Julius looked thoughtful.
”Don't you like it, Julius?”
”I dunno,” said the boy, slowly.
”Do you like this man Morgan?”
”I don't like him. I'm used to him.”
”And you don't like the idea of his being arrested through your means?”
Julius nodded.
”I know how you feel, but I don't see how it can be helped. If he didn't rob us he would rob somebody else. Did he ever do any honest work?”
”Not as I knows on.”
”How does he live?”
”By stealin' and gamblin'.”
”I hope he won't teach you to follow his example, Julius.”
”I don't want to be like him.”
”Why not?”
”I want to be respectable, like you.”
”You know it's wrong to steal.”
”Yes,” said Julius, but without any great depth of conviction. The fact is, stealing was too familiar to his observation to excite in him detestation or horror. But he was a sharp boy. He knew that his guardian for the last five years had spent more than half the time in confinement. Even when free he lived from hand to mouth. Julius had made up his mind that it did not pay. He saw that an honest mechanic got a good deal more comfort and enjoyment out of life than Jack, and he had a vague wish to become respectable. This was encouraging, as far as it went. Higher considerations might come by and by.