he impression that
our hero intended to make an insult upon him.

"Be careful, boy," he warned. "I've caught you red-handed in the
commission of a crime that may send you to State's prison. You'd better
take heed what you say!"

"Mr. Rogers," said Mrs. Gilbert, "that envelope contains government
bonds that belong to my son. Ask Colonel Ross how many he lost."

"Two bonds of a hundred dollars each," answered the Colonel. "And here
they are," he continued, producing two bonds of that denomination from
the envelope.

"Look again. See if there are no more," said Harry.

The Colonel, evidently surprised, produced a fifty.

"Do you mean to say that you lost that, also?" inquired Harry.

"No," replied the Colonel, evidently puzzled; "you must have got that
from somewhere else."

"I got the whole somewhere else," said Harry.

"It is entirely useless, Harry Gilbert, to attempt to impose upon me by
any such ridiculous story. As to the extra bond, I don't know where it
came from. Perhaps your mother had it before. It doesn't alter the fact
that I have found my stolen bonds in your possession."

"When did you lose your bonds?" asked Uncle Obed, who thought it time to
"put in his oar," as he afterward expressed it.

"Last evening."

"You're sure you had 'em up to that time, are you?"

"Yes; I looked them over, and counted them early in the evening."

"Then, all I can say is that the bonds you've got in your hands have
been in the house several days. Harry showed them to me when he first
got 'em."

"Really, Mr. Wilkins, I don't like to doubt the word of an old man like
you; but, sir, your statement is absolutely incredible."

"It is true," said Mrs. Gilbert. "I, too, assert the same thing."

"Then you are all in a conspiracy," said Colonel Ross, in a passion.

"And you have evidently plotted the ruin of an innocent boy," said Mrs.
Gilbert, with spirit.

"You have always pretended to be poor," continued Colonel Ross, "and now
you expect me to believe that your son owns nearly three hundred
dollars' worth of bonds!"

"I do, for it is true."

"Where did he get them?"

"They were given him."

"Utterly absurd! People don't often give boys such presents as that.
Constable, I call on you to arrest that boy."

"Where is your warrant, Colonel?"

"Arrest him on suspicion."

"I could not do it."

"Then you mean to connive at his escape?"

"No; I'll stay here to-night, if you insist upon it."

"Do so, and I