ks."

With this object in view the young bridge tender hurried through the
village toward the hill, upon which the few handsome residences of the
place were situated.

In the most prominent spot was located the mansion of Squire Paget, a Queen
Anne structure, surrounded by a garden full of fancy shrubs and plants,
which during her life had been Mrs. Paget's pride.

Passing through the gate, Ralph walked up the gravel path to the front
piazza and rang the bell.

He had to wait a short time. Then a slow step was heard through the
hallway, and the door was opened by Mrs. Hanson, the squire's housekeeper.

"Good-evening," said Ralph, politely. "Is Percy at home?"

"I don't really know," returned Mrs. Hanson. "Come in and I will find out."

She ushered Ralph into the hallway, and motioned him to a seat. Then she
passed upstairs.

"I guess it will be all right, squire," Ralph heard a voice say in a nearby
side room--the library. "And you are perfectly safe in making the deal."

"I trust so, Pickley," came the reply, in Squire Paget's well-known sharp
tones. "It's worth the trouble, you know."

"Of course, I get pay for my trouble," went on Pickley, as he stepped to
the doorway.

"I'll pay what I promised," returned the squire, and then both men stepped
into the hallway.

They started back on seeing Ralph, as though they had imagined no one was
around. The young bridge tender made up his mind they had not noted his
ring.

"Why--ah--what brings you here, Nelson?" demanded the squire, as soon as he
could recover.

"I called to see Percy, sir."

"I believe Percy is out."

Ralph's hope fell at this announcement.

"Can you tell me where I can find him, sir?" he asked.

"He is somewhere about the village, I presume. He said he would be back by
nine o'clock or half-past."

Ralph glanced at the tall clock which stood at the end of the hall, and saw
that it lacked but ten minutes of nine. Percy might be in in a few minutes.

"If you please, I will wait for him," he said, politely.

"Very well."

Squire Paget moved toward the door, and opened it for Dan Pickley, his
visitor.

"Good-night, Pickley," he said.

"Good-night, squire," was the reply, and then Pickley moved down the steps.

The squire watched him go out of the gate, and then closed the front door
once more.

"How long have you been waiting?" he asked, rather abruptly.

"Only a minute or two, sir."

"No longer than that?" and the squire bent