a pawnbroker's ticket was, and read it with curiosity.

She saw that it was made out to Ben Barclay.

"How, then, did Master Conrad get hold of it?" she said to herself.
"It's my belief he's trying to get Master Ben into trouble. It's a
shame, it is, for Master Ben is a gentleman and he isn't."

Between the two boys, Susan favored Ben, who always treated her with
consideration, while Conrad liked to order about the servants, as if
they were made to wait upon him.

After Conrad had disposed of the pawn ticket, he said carelessly to
his mother:

"Mother, if I were you, I'd look into Ben's room. You might find the
opera glass there."

"I don't think he'd leave it there. He would pawn it."

"Then you might find the ticket somewhere about."

Upon this hint, Mrs. Hill went up to Ben's room, and there, upon the
bureau, she naturally found the ticket.

"I thought so," she said to herself. "Conrad was right. The boy is a
thief. Here is the ticket made out to him by name. Well, well, he's
brazen enough, in all conscience. Now shall I show it to Cousin
Hamilton at once, or shall I wait until the detective has reported?"

On the whole, Mrs. Hill decided to wait. She could delay with safety,
for she had proof which would utterly crush and confound the hated
interloper.

Meanwhile, the detective pursued his investigations. Of course, he
visited Simpson's, and there he learned that the opera glass, which he
readily recognized from the description, had been brought there a few
days previous.

"Who brought it?" he asked.

"A boy of about sixteen."

"Did he give his name?"

The books were referred to, and the attendant answered in the
affirmative.

"He gave the name of Ben Barclay," he answered.

"Do you think that was his real name?" asked the detective.

"That depends on whether he had a right to pawn it."

"Suppose he stole it?"

"Then, probably, he did not give his real name."

"So I think," said Mr. Lynx quietly.

"Do you know if there is a boy by that name?"

"There is; but I doubt if he knows anything about the matter."

"I will call again, perhaps to-morrow," he added. "I must report to
my principal what I have discovered."

From Simpson's he went straight to Mrs. Hamilton, who had as yet
received no communication from the housekeeper.

"Well, Mr. Lynx," she asked, with interest, "have you heard anything
of the glass?"

"I have seen it," was the quiet reply.

"Where?"

"At a well