was that just as Congreve was sitting down to supper on the
evening of the second day, he was informed that a man wished to see him
at the door. On answering the call, he saw before him a small man, of
quiet manner, dressed in a sober suit of black.

"You name is Congreve, I believe?" he said, politely,

"Yes, sir," answered James, in a hesitating tone.

"Then I must trouble you to go with me."

"I have just sat down to supper."

"I am really sorry to disturb you, but you are charged with selling two
stolen bonds in Wall Street yesterday."

"There is some mistake," said Congreve, hurriedly. "Colonel Ross sent me
the bonds by his son, with a request that I would sell them for him."

"Glad to hear it," said the detective, laconically. "Then you will be
able to clear yourself. Meanwhile, you must come with me."

And James Congreve spent the night in a boarding house by no means
fashionable.

CHAPTER XL

PREPARING TO PROSECUTE

"I am going to the bottom of this affair," said Colonel Ross, as he
sipped his second cup of coffee at the breakfast table the next morning.
"The Gilbert boy must suffer the consequences of his crime."

"Will he be sent to prison, pa?" inquired Philip.

"It is a State's prison offense, my son," answered his father.

Was it on Harry's account that Philip suddenly turned pale and looked
nervous? I cannot credit him with a sufficient amount of feeling for
another. He could not help recalling the fact that it was he and not
Harry who had been guilty of this State's prison offense.

"However, the thing can't possibly be traced to me," he reflected,
somewhat more comfortable in mind. "I don't know as I care whether Harry
Gilbert goes to prison or not. He is very proud and stuck-up, and it
will take down his pride."

"I commend your decision," said Mrs. Ross, to her husband. "In my
opinion, mercy would be misplaced in such a case as this. The boy who is
degraded enough to steal is likely to continue in his criminal course,
and the sooner he is punished the better."

There was something in this remark, also, that made Philip wince.

"Where will Harry Gilbert be tried?" asked Philip.

"Before Squire Davis. I directed the constable to carry him round there
at nine o'clock this morning."

"May I go, too?"

"Yes; your testimony will be needed to show that the boy was prowling
around our house on the evening in question."

"Very well," answere