"My name is Ephraim Paulding."

Bolton noted it down in his memorandum-book, and soon after the train ran
into the station at Forty-second Street.

There was no time to lose. Bolton made inquiries and obtained the name of
a successful lawyer, with an office at 182 Nassau Street. He did not wait
till the next day, but made a call that same evening at his house on
Lexington Avenue.

Mr. Norcross, the lawyer, entered the parlor with Bolton's card in his
hand, and a puzzled expression on his face.

"Have I ever met you before, Mr. Bolton?" he asked.

"No, sir."

"Please state your business."

"I should like to enter your office. I am a lawyer with fifteen years'
experience."

"I should hardly think so, considering the strange proposal you are
making."

"I am quite aware that it seems so, but I can make it worth your while."

"How?"

"By bringing you business. I can put in your hands now a will case
involving an estate of fifty thousand dollars, and further on probably a
much more important case."

"You seem to be a hustler."

"I am."

"Where has your professional life been spent?" asked Norcross.

"At Elmira. Now I wish to remove to this city. It will give me a larger
and more profitable field."

"Give me some idea of the case you say you can put in my hands."

Bolton did so. His terse and crisp statement--for he was a man of
ability--interested the lawyer, and disposed him favorably toward the
matter.

The result of the interview was that he engaged Bolton at a small salary
and a commission on business brought to the office for a period of three
months.

"Thank you," said Bolton as he rose to go. "You will not regret this
step."

The next morning Bolton brought his railroad acquaintance to the office,
and Mr. Norcross formally undertook his case.

"I think we shall win," he said. "It is an aggravated case of undue
influence. Mr. Bolton will from time to time communicate to you the steps
we have taken."

It is unnecessary to go into details. It is enough to say that the will
was broken, and a goodly sum found its way to the coffers of Lawyer
Norcross.

By this time Benjamin Bolton had established himself in the favor of his
employer, who at the end of three months made a new and much more
advantageous arrangement. Bolton had not yet taken any steps in Ernest's
case, but he now felt that the time had come to do so. He wrote to the
postmaster at Oak Forks, inquiring if he knew a boy named Ern