inking, and so I--I--well, you can see how it
is."

"You are not to blame, Hal. A better or more noble boy never
lived--and--and I thank God that is so, for it--I will explain later. I
must see Caleb Allen without delay."

And with his tin box under his arm, Horace Sumner rushed from the house,
taking the golden locket with him.

When he appeared at the station-house he seemed almost like a crazy man,
so eager was he to interview Allen. A private meeting between the two
was speedily arranged.

"Allen, I have come on an important mission," began Horace Sumner.

"Have you? I thought you had your bonds," returned the swindler, as
cooly as he could.

"I am not referring to the bonds. This matter is far more important."

"Indeed!"

"When you and the others were at the old Flack mansion Samuels mentioned
a subject that lies close to my heart."

"Samuels didn't know what he was saying," growled Allen, turning pale.

"He did, Allen. I have been blind, but my eyes are now wide open. Caleb
Allen, years ago you stole my son, my little baby boy."

"It's not true!" almost shouted Allen, but he trembled from head to
foot.

"It is true. I have the evidence to prove it. Do you deny that you took
the little one first to Philadelphia and then to the village of Fairham,
and on the night of the Fourth of July----"

Caleb Allen jumped up as if shot.

"So Tommy Macklin has been blabbing, had he?" he screamed. "But it won't
do you any good, Horace Sumner. The boy is lost to you--you will never
hear of him again."

"So?" The old broker pulled the golden locket from his pocket. "Look at
this. It was around his neck when he was stolen, and it has been the
connecting link to prove his identity. He is found, and my little boy
Howard is--Hal Carson, the youth who helped to bring you to justice."

Here we must bring our tale to a close.

What Horace Sumner had said was true. Hal Carson was really his son, who
had been stolen by Caleb Allen and Tommy Macklin, the latter having,
even in those days, been a ready tool of the swindler.

Even after having robbed Sumner of his only son, Allen's hatred was not
satisfied, and he entered into the limited partnership only for the
purpose of ruining the man.

Allen had fallen in with Hardwick at a gambling house uptown, and the
two soon became firm friends. At that time Dick Ferris was a great
admirer of Hardwick, who found the tall boy a fellow without scruples of
any kind.

Hal was