to me the story of my birth."

"You don't express yourself much like a street-boy now, Gilbert."

"No, sir. I hope I have improved since then."

"I used to be amused, sometimes, by the expressions you used."

"I don't wonder, sir. I must have talked like a young barbarian; but I
am grateful to God for having raised me above my former ignorance."

"It is determined, then, that you will prosecute your claims. How do
you propose to do it?"

"I must first go to St. Louis and see my uncle again."

"Does he live in St. Louis?"

"Yes, sir."

"How do you know? Did he tell you so?"

"No, sir. But I read it on the hotel register, at the hotel."

"Did he register himself before he first met you?"

"No, sir."

"Where was he before?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Then what reason have you to think that he registered correctly? Why
did he change his hotel? I may be wrong, but it strikes me that it was
intended as a blind to deceive you. Your uncle is a shrewd man, and he
would understand the importance of keeping his real residence concealed
from one who had in his power to prosecute a claim against him
involving nearly his whole fortune."

"Then you don't think he lives in St. Louis, Mr. Ferguson?"

"I don't think he does."

Gilbert looked blank.

"That interferes with my plans," he said. "I meant to ask a month's
leave of absence from you, and go to St. Louis and see what I could
do."

"That would take money."

"I have saved up about eight hundred dollars," said Gilbert.

"Eight hundred dollars?" repeated his employer, surprised. "How was it
possible for you to save so much?"

"I have no board to pay. My roommate is rich, and I was the means of
doing him a service which he repays in that way."

"I congratulate you, Gilbert. It speaks well for your habits that you
have laid aside so much money. I was about to offer you a loan."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Ferguson," said Gilbert, gratefully; "but I
don't think I shall need it. I shall have money enough, but that is not
all. From what you say, I am afraid, if I went to St. Louis, it would
only be a wild-goose chase."

"Stay," said Mr. Ferguson, after a moment's thought; "an idea strikes
me. You may gain the knowledge you want with very little trouble. Mind,
I say _may_. It is not certain."

"How, sir?" said Gilbert, eagerly.

CHAPTER XXV.

MAURICE BETRAYS HIMSELF.

"In this way," answered Mr. Ferguson. "Your uncle did not register his
name