o circumvent the villains; not that they knew the particular
plots and counter-plots that were going on among the common enemy, for of
these they were ignorant; but they were determined to hunt them up and stop
their depredations.

Thus it will be seen that the elements are at work; and from the determined
character of all the operators and their great desire to have things done
speedily, we may expect stirring times.

CHAPTER XVII.

HADLEY.

It will be remembered, that after his recovery from the wounds inflicted by
Bill and Dick, as recorded in a former chapter, Hadley proceeded to
Philadelphia. When he reached that city he found his mother and uncle both
very sick, and in need of constant care and attention. She had no kind
daughter to sit by her couch and smooth her pillow; and he had no
affectionate wife to bathe his fevered brow with her soft hand, and by such
gentle attentions as no one else can bestow, alleviate his pain. Hadley
endeavored, to the best of his ability, to fill the place of daughter to
one, and of wife to the other, in his assiduous efforts to watch over, aid
and comfort them; and though he did not possess all that sweet softness of
manner and voice that belongs especially to woman, and though he could not
perceive, with the quick intuition of the other sex, yet by constant
attention he was enabled to ease many a pain and throw comfort into many an
otherwise sad and lonely hour.

At first his mother was in need of the most attention, and was hardly
expected to live from one day to the next; but he soon had the satisfaction
of seeing her disease yield to nature and treatment, and she began to grow
better. But almost before he could relax anything in his attentions to her,
the uncle became much worse; and he shared his time between the two,
scarcely taking time to eat or sleep.

Between the uncle and nephew there had existed a coldness for some years,
which was caused by the following circumstance:

In his youth the uncle was the companion of an estimable young man, between
whom and himself there existed the warmest friendship and sincerest
attachment. They were indebted to each other for many kind acts, and thus
became mutually endeared one to the other. At length they were separated,
by the uncle going to the West Indies on business, expecting to be detained
a length of time, perhaps for years, which proved to be the case. While he
was away the friend of his younger days met with th