p, but not till Gilbert had seen
it. The latter at once remembered the servant's description of the
young man who called for his opera-glass.

"How long have you had that mustache, Maurice?" he asked, pointedly.

"I bought it yesterday," muttered Maurice, in confusion.

"I thought you might have had it longer," said Gilbert, quietly.

Maurice did not answer.

"Now I know who stole the paper," thought our hero. "I must be on my
guard against him."

He said nothing further; but Maurice knew that he was suspected, and it
only incensed him the more against his fellow-clerk.

CHAPTER XXVI.

MAURICE AND BESSIE BENTON.

Gilbert could not help wondering how Maurice and Mr. James Grey were
brought together, and how it happened that the former became his
uncle's agent and accomplice. He knew, however, that Maurice never
liked him, and guessed that this had been an inducement.

"I wonder," he thought, "if there is any chance of his communicating my
plans to Mr. Grey? It will be best for me to keep him in ignorance of
my destination."

When, therefore, he was ready to start, he resolved only to tell him
that he was going to St. Louis. This was, in truth, his first
destination, but, as we know, he intended to go farther.

Maurice, who didn't before know of Gilbert's plans, was surprised when
the latter walked up to him and said:

"I must bid you good-by for a time, Maurice."

"Are you going away?" exclaimed his fellow-clerk, staring at him in
amazement.

"Yes, I am going away for a short time."

"Where?"

"To St. Louis."

"On business for Mr. Ferguson?"

"No, it is on my own business."

"I suppose it has something to do with his uncle," thought Maurice, but
he thought it most prudent not to say this.

"How long do you expect to be gone?" he asked.

"I don't know--it depends on how successful I am."

"Bessie Benton will miss you," said Maurice, sarcastically.

"So she said," answered Gilbert quietly, appreciating his motive.

"When did you see her?" asked Maurice, with a twinge of jealousy.

"Last evening."

This made Maurice feel very uncomfortable. Bessie had grown very
pretty, and he admired her more than ever, but with a strange
perversity, as he thought, she didn't appear to reciprocate the
feeling. On the other hand, she appeared to care a good deal more for
Gilbert's society than for that of Maurice. It came to him now, with a
feeling of joy, that when Gilbert was away Bessie would n