ides Carson, there are two regular
detectives from the department on the case, and a private man from the
agency."

"Then all together ought to bring in a good result."

"We will hope for the best, Laura," said the old broker, bravely.

"If you do not recover the bonds, cannot you get outside help to tide
over the crisis?"

"I could have done so years ago. But I find that I made a big mistake in
going into partnership with Caleb Allen. While many are willing to help
me individually, they do not trust Allen, and therefore will not now
assist me."

"Is Mr. Allen, then, such a bad man?"

"I don't know how bad he is. He is in with Hardwick, so Carson says, and
Hardwick is a villain."

At the mention of the ex-book-keeper's name, Laura drew herself up.

"I never liked him, papa, and I am glad to find that you have discovered
his true character."

Horace Sumner looked in surprise at his daughter.

"Why, pet, I do not understand you."

"Then let me tell you something. For the past two months Mr. Hardwick
has been paying his addresses to me, and--"

"Laura!"

"Yes, it's so. I did not mention it to you, because I did not wish to
humiliate him. I told him there was no hope for him, and asked him to
drop the matter."

"And has the villain done so?"

"Partly, but he frequently follows me about when he gets the chance, and
I do not like it."

"If he does so in the future I'll cowhide him," cried Horace Sumner.
"But I have discovered his true character, and sent him off, and in the
future I imagine he will not dare approach you."

"If he does not, I will be thankful, papa."

Horace Sumner passed his hand over his brow, and heaved a deep sigh.

"Everything seems to go wrong of late years," he said. "The
disappearance of little Howard has undermined my whole prosperity."

"And you have given up looking for him?" questioned Laura.

"Yes. What is the use? I have had detectives on the case for years, and
it has cost me thousands of dollars."

"And they have learned nothing?"

"Nothing further than that a man took the child to Philadelphia."

"They could not trace him in that city?"

"No. The half-decomposed body of a man was found, a month later, in the
Schuylkill River, and the detectives thought it must be his remains."

"But there was no child with him?"

"No, nor had the police seen anything of the little one."

"Howard must be dead," said Laura, softly, and her blue eyes filled with
tears.

"I a