companion. "The boy
is evidently working against us both. You have been twenty years in my
uncle's service. He ought to remember you handsomely in his will. If
I inherit the property, as is my right, your services shall be
remembered," said John Wade.

"Thank you, Mr. John," said the gratified housekeeper.

"That secures her help," thought John, in his turn.

"She will now work hard for me. When the time comes, I can do as much or
as little for her as I please."

"Of course, we must work together against this interloper, who appears
to have gained a dangerous influence over my uncle."

"You can depend upon me, Mr. John," said Mrs. Bradley.

"I will think it over, and tell you my plan," said John Wade. "But my
uncle will wonder at my appetite. I must go back to the library. We will
speak of this subject again."

CHAPTER XII

A FALSE FRIEND

When John Wade re-entered the library, Frank was reading, but Mr.
Wharton stopped him.

"That will do, Frank," he said. "As I have not seen my nephew for a long
time, I shall not require you to read any longer. You can go, if you
like."

Frank bowed, and bidding the two good-evening, left the room.

"That is an excellent boy, John." said the old gentleman, as the door
closed upon our hero.

"How did you fall in with him?" asked John. Mr. Wharton told the story
with which the reader is already familiar.

"You don't know anything of his antecedents, I suppose?" said John,
carelessly.

"Only what he told me. His father and mother are dead, and he is obliged
to support himself and his sister. Did you notice anything familiar in
Frank's expression?" asked Mr. Wharton.

"I don't know. I didn't observe him very closely."

"Whenever I look at Frank, I think of George. I suppose that is why I
have felt more closely drawn to the boy. I proposed to Mrs. Bradley that
the boy should have a room here, but she did not favor it. I think she
is prejudiced against him."

"Probably she is afraid he would be some trouble," replied John.

"If George's boy had lived he would be about Frank's age. It would have
been a great comfort to me to superintend his education, and watch him
grow up. I could not have wished him to be more gentlemanly or promising
than my young reader."

"Decidedly, that boy is in my way," said John Wade to himself. "I must
manage to get rid of him, and that speedily, or my infatuated uncle will
be adopting him."

"Of what disease did George's boy di