with him if he confesses."

"That is true, sir."

"If he is merely a tool it is nothing to you whether he is punished or not.
You wish to bring the instigator of this plot against you to justice."

"Supposing I go in and have a talk with him, then?" suggested Ralph.

"We will both go in," returned Horace Kelsey.

Half an hour later they were closeted with Martin Thomas in a side room of
the police station. They told the rascal of the object of their visit.

At first Martin Thomas would not listen to them but when Horace Kelsey
pictured the possible future to him he grew more pliable. He began to pace
up and down nervously.

"Well, supposing I own up to everything," he said, at last. "Will you drop
this case against me?"

"That depends on what you have to say," said Ralph, cautiously.

"Well, I can say this much: I was only hired for this work--I and Toglet."

"Who by?"

"Squire Paget, of Westville."

Had a bombshell exploded at Ralph's feet he would have been no more
astonished than at this declaration.

"Do you mean to say Squire Paget hired you for this work?" he demanded.

"Yes, I do. The whole scheme was his."

"But what was his object?"

"He wanted to get you out of the way."

"But why?"

"He didn't tell me why, but I reckon it was on account of some valuable
Westville property."

"It must be the property down by the lake front!" cried Ralph.

"Had he the papers for that land?" asked Horace Kelsey.

"I never thought so," returned the boy, slowly. "But he might have. He used
to transact most of father's business for him years ago."

"Then you can depend upon it that he has the papers."

"But the land belongs to my mother."

"He's going to force her into selling out to him," put in Martin Thomas.
"With you out of the way he felt sure, I suppose, that he could do as he
pleased with your mother."

"The scamp!" ejaculated Ralph, his honest eyes flashing fire. "If you have
told the truth, he shall suffer for this, mark my words!"

"And, hoping you will drop this matter against me," went on the prisoner,
"let me give you another pointer. You wrote to your mother the other day,
didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, he got that letter. Your mother never saw it."

"No wonder I haven't received any reply then!" burst out Ralph. "Did you
ever hear of anything so mean?" he added, turning to his rich friend.

"Your duty at present is plain, Ralph," replied the insurance agent,
pointedly. "The best yo