nd of his, named Isaac Baker.

"I tell you, Baker," said Maurice, warmly, "it's the greatest piece of
injustice my being paid only half the salary of that sneak, Gilbert
Grey."

"I suppose he's a favorite with Ferguson, isn't he?"

"That's just it. I'm as good a clerk as he is, any day, yet he gets
twenty dollars a week, while I only get ten. It's enough to make a
fellow swear."

"Did you ever speak to Ferguson about it?"

"Yes, but that was all the good it did. He seems to think there's
nobody like Grey."

"How did Grey get in with him?"

"I believe he's a nephew of the man Ferguson used to work for. Besides
he's got a way of getting round people. He's a humbug and a hypocrite."

Maurice spoke with bitterness, and evidently felt strongly on the
subject. He had another grievance, which he did not choose to speak of,
of which our readers have already had a glimpse. His cousin, Bessie
Benton, persisted in the bad taste of preferring Gilbert to him. Of
course they were too young for anything serious; but, in the social
gatherings to which all three were invited, Bessie was, of course, the
recipient of attentions from both, and she had, on more than one
occasion, shown unmistakably her preference for Gilbert Grey. Only two
evenings previous, she had danced with Gilbert, but, when Maurice
applied, had told him her card was full. It was not an intentional
slight, and, had he come up earlier, he would have been successful in
securing her. But he chose to regard it as a slight, and this naturally
embittered him still more, partly against his cousin, but most of all
against Gilbert, who, both in business and with the fair sex, seemed to
have eclipsed him.

"I suppose, under the circumstances, you don't like Grey much?" said
his companion.

"Like him!" returned Maurice, with bitter emphasis. "I should think
not. He's a mean grasping fellow, and I hate him. He's got the inside
track now, but my turn may come some time."

James Grey listened to this conversation with increasing interest. It
seemed to open a way for him to success.

"Come," thought he, "here is just the fellow I want. He hates my
dangerous nephew, and can easily be molded to my purposes. I will
follow him, and, as soon as I can speak to him alone, I will see if I
cannot win him to my side."

CHAPTER XXI.

A CONSPIRACY.

James Grey continued to follow Maurice Walton and his companion until
his patience was nearly exhausted. At length, jus