t Maurice Walton, with but fifty cents in his pocket,
could not resist. He wanted money sorely. Besides, he had a chance to
win a hundred dollars additional, and this would enable him to gratify
several wishes which had hitherto seemed unattainable.

"I will do my best," he said, holding out his hand for the money.

There was a quiet flash of triumph in the cold, gray eye of his older
companion, as he placed the bill in Maurice's hands.

"I need not caution you to be secret," he said.

"I shall not say a word to any one," answered young Walton.

James Grey rubbed his hands gleefully, as Walton left the room.

"The scheme promises well," he soliloquized. "My worthy nephew, I may
checkmate you yet."

CHAPTER XXII.

THE THEFT OF THE PAPER.

Had Maurice Walton been a youth of strict honor, he could not have been
induced to undertake the theft of the paper, however large the sum
offered him. But his principles were not strict enough to interfere,
and the hope of injuring Gilbert, whom he envied, and therefore hated,
made him the more willing to engage in the enterprise.

"A hundred dollars will be very acceptable," he said to himself,
complacently. "They couldn't be more easily earned. Now, how shall I
set about it?"

Maurice came to the conclusion that Gilbert kept the paper in his
trunk. This seemed to be the most natural depository to be selected. Of
course, then, he must contrive some means of opening the trunk. He
thought of pretending that he had lost the key of his own trunk, and
asking Gilbert for the loan of his. But that would draw suspicion upon
him when the paper was missed. Another plan, which he finally adopted,
was to go to a locksmith, and ask for a variety of trunk keys, on the
same pretext, in order to try, with the liberty of returning those that
didn't suit. This, and other points necessary to success in his scheme,
were determined upon by Maurice, and will be made known to the reader
as he proceeds.

A little before ten the next morning, Maurice left his place in the
store, and, going to Mr. Ferguson, asked permission to go home.

"For what reason?" asked his employer.

"I have a terrible headache," said Maurice, looking as miserable as
possible.

"Certainly you may go," said Mr. Ferguson, who was a kind-hearted man,
and who didn't doubt the statement.

"If I feel better I will come back in the afternoon," said Maurice.

"Don't come unless you feel able. I know what the heada