y, I will
bid you good-morning."

"I think you will find it best not to be in a hurry, Mr. Manning," said
Col. Vincent. "The charge must be met here and now. I charge you with
instigating and being cognizant of the fraud that has been perpetrated!"

"On what grounds, sir? Do you know I can sue you for libel?"

"You are welcome to do so, Mr. Manning. I have a witness who will clear
me."

"Who is he?"

"Jonas Barton!"

If a bombshell had exploded in the room, Mr. Manning could not have
looked paler or more thoroughly dismayed. Yet he tried to keep up a
little longer.

"I don't know any man of that name," he answered, faintly.

"Your looks show that you do. I may as well tell you, Mr. Manning, that
resistance is useless. We can overwhelm you with proof if we take the
matter before the courts. But we do not care to do so. We have something
to propose."

"What is it?" said Mr. Manning, faintly.

"The genuine will must be substituted for the fraudulent one. By it you
will receive ten thousand dollars, and Frank will consent that you shall
receive it. He will not ask you to account for the sums you have
wrongfully spent during the last year, and will promise not to prosecute
you, provided you leave this neighborhood and never return to it, or in
any way interfere with him. To insure this, we shall have Jonas Barton's
written confession, attested before a justice of the peace, ready for
use, if needful. Do you accept?"

"I must," said Mr. Manning, despondently. "But I shall be a poor man."

"No man who has health and the use of his facilities is poor with ten
thousand dollars," answered the colonel.

"Mark alone will spend more than the interest of this sum."

"Then you must prevent him. He will be better off if he has to earn his
living, as Frank has done for the last year."

In less than a week the transfer was made, and Frank recovered his
patrimony.

Mr. Manning and Mark went to Chicago, and perhaps further West; but
nothing has been heard from them for years.

Frank didn't return to the Cedars. The place was let until he should
wish to return to it.

By the advice of Col. Vincent, he resumed his preparation for college,
and, graduating in due time, commenced the study of law.

Though rich enough to do without a profession, he felt that he should
not be content to lead an aimless life.

He obtained for his school friend, Herbert Grant, the post of private
secretary to Mr. Percival, and Herbert bec