answering by another tap on the
door.

"Who is it now?" he said.

He stepped to the door, and opening it, admitted Susan.

"What is it, Susan," asked Mrs. Hamilton, in some surprise.

"Did Mrs. Hill bring you a pawn ticket, ma'am?"

"And what do you know about it?" demanded Mr. Lynx brusquely.

"And did she say she found it on Master Ben's bureau?"

"Yes, Susan," said the mistress; "what can you tell us about it?"

"I can tell you this, ma'am, that I saw Master Conrad steal into the
room this morning, and put it there with his own hands."

"Ha! this is something to the purpose." said the detective briskly.

"Are you sure of this, Susan?" asked Mrs. Hamilton, evidently shocked.

"I can take my Bible oath of it, ma'am; and it's my belief that he's
tryin' to get Master Ben into trouble."

"Thank you, Susan," said her mistress. "You have done not only Ben,
but myself, a valuable service. You can go. I will see that you do
not regret it."

"Don't tell Mrs. Hill that I told you, or she'd be my enemy for life!"

"I will see to that."

As Susan left the room, Mr. Lynx said:

"You won't require my services any longer. It is clear enough who
pawned the glass."

"You mean--"

"I mean the boy Conrad, whose mother was so anxious to fix the guilt
upon your young secretary. If you have the slightest doubt about it,
invite the young gentleman to accompany you to Simpson's to redeem the
opera glass."

"I will."

CHAPTER XXIX
SOME UNEXPECTED CHANGES

When Conrad came home his first visit was to his mother.

"Has anything been found out about the stolen opera glass?" he asked,
with a studied air of indifference.

"I should say there had," she answered. "I followed the clew you
suggested, and searched the boy's room. On the bureau I found the
pawn ticket."

"You don't say so! What a muff Ben must have been to leave it around
so carelessly! What did you do with it?"

"I waited till Mr. Lynx was conferring with Cousin Hamilton, and then
I carried it in and gave it to them."

"What did they say?" asked Conrad eagerly.

"They seemed thunderstruck, and Mr. Lynx very politely thanked me for
the help I had given them."

"Has Ben been bounced yet?"

"No; but doubtless he will be very soon. Cousin Hamilton doesn't want
to think him a thief and gambler, but there seems no way of escaping
from such a mass of proof."

"I should say not. Do you think she's told Ben? Does he look down in
th