Horatio Alger

“ 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."
"I don't feel that I have any call to do anything."
"You ought to tell your employer."
"I am no telltale," said James scornfully.
"Then you will let him stay in the store, knowing him to be a thief?"
"I don't know him to be a thief. ”

“ Jasper urged James to give information about Rodney, but he steadily refused.
"I leave others to do such dirty work," he said, "and I don't think any better of you, let me tell you, for your eagerness to turn the boy out of his position." ”

“ Goodnow's?"
"Four months."
"What have you been doing since?"
"I was acting as tutor to the son of Mr. Sargent, of West Fifty Eighth Street."
"A well known citizen. Then you are a scholar?"
"Yes, sir, I am nearly prepared for college." ”