g to work up the case. Our chief
told Mr. Dalton we would. Therefore it must be another example of
Mason's perfidy."

"Come to the telegraph office. We'll see if we can trace the party who
sent this despatch."

They hastened from the Union Club.

By dint of diligent inquiry the Bradys learned which office the forged
despatch had been sent from, and went there.

Showing the message to the girl operator, Old King Brady asked:

"Do you remember sending this message?"

"Distinctly," she replied, "on account of the odd signature."

"Can you describe the party who sent it?"

"Oh, yes. I'm acquainted with the gentleman."

"Indeed! What was his name?"

"Mr. Ronald Mason."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, indeed."

The Bradys thanked the girl and departed.

"Gradually we are getting at the bottom of this affair," said Old King
Brady.

CHAPTER VII.

THE MISSING MAN FOUND.

The Bradys kept Ronald Mason closely shadowed for several days. They
saw that he was living the mechanical life of a sober business man.

He was at his desk every morning at nine o'clock, and departed at five
in the evening for home, in a cab. He did not depart from the house
during the night, and received no callers there.

But the detectives did not relax their vigilance.

They had a deep-rooted suspicion that Mason had been working a plot to
get rid of his uncle so he could inherit part of Mr. Dalton's money,
and win the broker's daughter for his bride without any opposition.

Old King Brady figured that he was bound to show his hand sooner or
later.

Nor did his judgment err.

At the end of the week a telegraph boy delivered a message at the
broker's residence, about nine o'clock at night.

Within a few minutes after the lad departed the front door opened and a
man in shabby clothes, with a beard on his face, cautiously emerged.

He carried a big bundle under his arm.

He glanced up and down the deserted street and seeing nobody, he
hastily ran down the steps and stole rapidly away.

Safely hidden in the area of an empty house opposite, the Bradys
observed him, and a smile crossed Harry's face as he nudged his partner
and whispered:

"There's Mason, now!"

"Very clumsily disguised!" Old King Brady commented.

"If he were not up to some mischief, he would not be so careful to
conceal his identity," Harry remarked, drily.

They let the young man get some distance ahead before they ventured out
in the street. Then they