e business with you first."

"If you expect alms, you have come to the wrong man."

"I know very well that you are not charitable. I used to be acquainted
with you."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Benjamin Bolton."

Stephen Ray looked startled.

"Benjamin Bolton!" he repeated, half incredulous. "I can't believe it."

CHAPTER XXV

A STARTLING DISCLOSURE

"Look at me closely, Stephen Ray," said the strange visitor. "I think you
will see some traces of the Bolton you used to know."

Stephen Ray did examine his visitor closely. Against his will he was
obliged to acknowledge the resemblance of the man before him to one who in
past times had had an intimate acquaintance with his affairs.

"You may be Benjamin Bolton," he said after a pause, "but if so, you have
fallen off greatly in your appearance. When I first knew you, you were
well dressed and----"

"Respectable, I suppose you mean to say?"

"Well, respectable, if you will have it so. Now you look more like a tramp
than a lawyer."

"True as gospel, every word of it. But it isn't too late to mend. That's
an old proverb and a true one. It is quite in the line of possibility that
I should get back to the position from which I fell."

"Perhaps so, but I'm not very sanguine of it."

"With your help nothing is impossible."

"You must not count upon that," said Stephen Ray stiffly. "It is a good
while since we parted company. I don't myself care to renew the
acquaintance."

"But I do," rejoined Bolton with emphasis.

"I have very little time at my disposal," said Ray, pulling out an elegant
gold watch and consulting it.

"I think it may be well for you to spare me a little time," went on Bolton
quietly.

There was something in his tone that sounded like a threat, and Stephen
Ray could not wholly conceal his uneasiness.

"Well," he said, "I will give you ten minutes. Get through your business,
whatever it is, as soon as possible."

"Hadn't you better send your son away?" suggested Bolton significantly.

"Why should I?"

But on second thoughts Mr. Ray concluded to act on the hint, and turning
to Clarence he said: "Clarence, you might take another spin on your
wheel."

This did not suit Clarence at all. His curiosity had been excited by his
father's change of front toward the objectionable stranger, and he counted
on finding out the reason for it.

"Why can't I stay?" he grumbled.

"This man and I have a little private business together."