would find evidence to support
my claim to the Crocker fortune at your cottage."

"So your visit to Kendon was made for the purpose of claiming Crocker's
money," Mr. Nichols said musing. "What did you expect to find in our
cottage?"

"I don't know, sir," Michael returned soberly. "I thought possibly
there might be letters or photographs which would establish my true
identity."

"Were you the person whom I mistook for a robber a few nights ago?"
Penny questioned.

"Yes," Michael admitted. "I shouldn't have been prowling about the
house, but in the day time I never had a chance to search. When you
heard me in the living room I ran out the door and hid in the woods."

"And I suppose it was you who took a package of letters from the attic
trunk," Penny went on.

"I did take some letters, but they were valueless. To tell you the
truth, I haven't a scrap of evidence to support my claim."

"I think we may be able to help you," Mr. Nichols said slowly. "But
you must answer several questions. I recall that when you first came
to our cottage you told us you intended to see Mr. Crocker on business.
Yet to my knowledge you never went to see him."

"I don't wonder that my actions appear contrary, sir. I intended to
visit Herman Crocker immediately, but while I was at your cottage, a
remark was dropped which led me to believe that another person who
claimed to be Walter Crocker already had called upon my uncle."

"That is true," the detective nodded. "There is another young man who
claims to be Walter Crocker."

"You see my position, sir. I had no proof of anything. I was afraid
that someone had played a joke on me. For that reason I gave a false
name and said nothing of the matter. I thought I would wait a few days
until I had gained more information."

"You acted wisely," Mr. Nichols declared.

"Obviously, Walter Crocker is an imposter," Penny said. "But who is
he? What is his true name and how did he obtain the evidence against
Herman Crocker?"

"We may be able to answer all those questions before we finish with the
case," returned the detective. "If Mrs. Havers will testify that
Michael is the same boy who was brought to the Glenhaven Home by Mr.
Keenan and that Keenan and Crocker are the same person, it will be a
simple matter to establish a claim to the fortune."

"The man of this photograph is the same individual who came to the Home
years ago," declared Mrs. Havers. "I will be glad to sign