you to say to it?"

"That he put me up to it, and gave me these keys to help me in doing
it. Of course, he expected to share the money."

This last statement was untrue, but Felicie was determined to be
revenged upon her treacherous ally.

"And you accepted?"

"Yes," said Felicie, seeing no way of escape. "I am poor, and thought
you wouldn't miss the money."

"My nephew accused Luke Walton of being the thief."

"It is untrue. He wanted to divert suspicion from himself. Besides, he
hates Luke."

"Do you?"

"No; I think him much better than Harold."

"So do I. Where did my nephew get his gold watch?"

"It was bought with the money he stole from the drawer."

"So I supposed. Well, Felicie, you can go, but I think you had better
hand me that bunch of keys."

"Shall you report me to Mrs. Tracy?"

"I have not decided. For the present we will both keep this matter
secret."

Luke's absence was, of course, noticed by Mrs. Tracy.

"Have you discharged Luke Walton?" she asked, hopefully. "I observe he
has not come here for the last two or three days."

"He has gone out of the city--on business."

"I am surprised that you should trust that boy to such an extent."

At this moment a telegraph messenger rang the bell, and a telegram was
brought up to Mrs. Merton.

It ran thus:

To MRS. MERTON, ---- Prairie Avenue, Chicago:

I have recovered all my mother's money with interest. Mr. Powell is
also successful. Will return this evening.

LUKE WALTON,

"Read it if you like, Louisa," said the old lady, smiling with
satisfaction.

"What does it mean?"

"That Luke has recovered over ten thousand dollars, of which his
mother had been defrauded. It was Warner who put him on the track of
the man who wrongfully held the money."

"Indeed!" said Mrs. Tracy, spitefully. "Then the least he can do is to
return the money he took from you."

"He never took any, Louisa."

"Who did, then?"

"Your son, Harold."

"Who has been telling lies about my poor boy?" exclaimed Mrs. Tracy,
angrily.

"A person who saw him unlocking the drawer."

"Has Luke Walton been telling falsehoods about my son?"

"No; it was quite another person. I have other proof also, and have
known for some time who the real thief was. If Harold claims that I
have done him injustice, send him to me."

After an interview with Harold, Mrs. Tracy was obliged to believe,
much against her will, that he was the guilty one and not the boy she
so muc