te me."

"This is certainly news. I knew Hardwick did not like you because you
suspected him, but I thought that had passed over."

"No, sir. He is down on me worse than ever, and I feel certain he is up
to something to get me into trouble."

"And you think the inkstands and pens have something to do with the
matter?"

"Yes, sir. Perhaps he'll say I stole them."

"I can't think Hardwick so bad," mused Mr. Sumner. "Why, if he would do
that, he would steal the tin box."

Hal said nothing to this. He preferred to discover more than he had
before making any revelation.

"You saw them this morning, didn't you?" went on the youth.

"Yes, I got a pen only ten minutes ago."

"Then you know I didn't take them."

"Yes."

"And you will keep silent--that is, for the present?"

"If you wish it, Hal."

And Mr. Sumner turned away and heaved a sigh. It is terrible to have
around you somebody you cannot trust.

Five minutes later Hal went out to lunch--a light affair, as the youth
had spent ten cents more than intended in following Hardwick the
previous evening, and he knew he must be sparing of his capital.

He was just about returning to the office, when, chancing to glance up
the street, he saw Hardwick and Ferris just separating at the corner.

He entered the office, and a minute later Hardwick followed. Neither
spoke, and but little was said all the afternoon, excepting such as
pertained to the business on hand.

Although his thoughts were busy on other matters, Hal paid strict
attention to his work, and Mr. Sumner was well pleased with all the
youth did.

"A good, manly fellow," he muttered to himself. "He could never have had
anything to do with the robbery of the bonds. I would rather suspect my
own son were he still alive. But poor Howard is gone."

Sudden tears sprang into the broker's eyes, which he as suddenly brushed
away, afraid that some customer might drop in and see his weakness.

Hal did not leave the office until after four o'clock, there being a
number of things to be written up before he could go. Hardwick had gone
an hour before, and Hal did not know in what direction.

There being nothing else to do, Hal proceeded leisurely up to his
boarding-house, never dreaming of the surprise in store for him. The
streets were filled with snow, and he enjoyed the jingle of the
sleigh-bells and the bustle of metropolitan life around him. Several
times he was strongly tempted to follow the newsboys and