is the clerk who was in your office at the time?" inquired my
uncle.

The lawyer looked somewhat discomposed at this question.

"'Why do you ask?'he inquired abruptly.

"'Because,' was the reply, 'his evidence is very important to us. My
brother states that he was present when the deposit was made.'

"'I don't know where he is,' said the lawyer. 'He was too dissipated to
remain in my office, and I accordingly discharged him.'

"My uncle suspected that the clerk had been bribed to keep silence, and
for additional security sent off to some distant place.

"Nothing could be done. Strong as our suspicions, and absolute as was
our conviction of the lawyer's guilt, we had no recourse. But from that
time I devoted my life to the exposure of this man. Fortunately I was
not without means. The other half of my father's property came to me;
and the interest being considerably more than I required for my support,
I have devoted the remainder to, prosecuting inquiries respecting the
missing clerk. Just before I came to Rossville, I obtained a clue which
I have since industriously followed up.

"Last night I received a letter from my agent, stating that he had found
the man--that he was in a sad state of destitution, and that he was
ready to give his evidence."

"Is the lawyer still living?" inquired Frank.

"He is."

"What a villain he must be."

"I am afraid he is, Frank."

"Does he still live in Boston?"

"No. After he made sure of his ill-gotten gains, he removed into the
country, where he built him a fine house. He has been able to live a
life of leisure; but I doubt if he has been as happy as he would have
been had he never deviated from the path of rectitude."

"Have you seen him lately?" asked Frank.

"I have seen him many times within the last few months," said the young
man, in a significant tone.

Frank jumped to his feet in surprise. "You don't mean----" he said, as a
sudden suspicion of the truth dawned upon his mind.

"Yes," said Mr. Morton deliberately, "I do mean that the lawyer who
defrauded my father lives in this village. You know him well as Squire
Haynes."

"I can hardly believe it," said Frank, unable to conceal his
astonishment. "Do you think he knows who you are?"

"I think he has noticed my resemblance to my father. If I had not
assumed a different name he would have been sure to detect me. This
would have interfered with my plans, as he undoubtedly knew the
whereabouts of his old cl