hrashing."

"Similar to the one you gave me the other day, I presume," replied Hal.
"I am ready for you at any time."

"We don't want any fighting in the house," cried Mrs. Ricket. "This
affair is bad enough without making it worse. Mr. Carson, do you object
to me and Mr. Saunders going up to your room?"

"Not at all. Come on."

Hal led the way, followed by the others. Dick Ferris smiled darkly to
himself as he came on behind.

"He'll find out he can't insult me for nothing," he muttered to himself.

The room reached, Hal threw open the door, and allowed Mrs. Ricket to
pass him.

"You had better make the search," he said. "That will be fair all
around."

"I will. Oh, what a trouble all this is." And crying softly to herself,
the landlady began her investigation.

Nothing was found in the closet nor in the drawer of the table. Then
Hal's meager possessions were hauled over, and still nothing came to
light.

"Look in the bureau drawer," suggested Saunders, anxiously.

Mrs. Ricket did so. From the rear the woman brought forth a large flat
box, rolled up in a newspaper.

The newspaper was cast aside, and the box opened. Out came a pair of
cuff-buttons, a gold watch-chain, a flat pocket-book, two inkstands, and
several boxes of pens.

The instant Hal saw the articles he understood the trick that had been
practiced upon him.

Saunders gave a cry.

"Those are mine! Let me see if the money is safe." He opened the
pocket-book. "Gone, every dollar of it!"

He turned upon Hal.

"Give me that fourteen dollars, or I will have you locked up at once!"

"Mr. Saunders, I never took these things," replied Hal, as calmly as he
could.

"Yes, but----" the dry-goods clerk was so angry he could hardly speak.

"I know it looks black against me, but perhaps I can clear myself," went
on the youth.

"Yes, you can," sneered Ferris. "Look here," he pointed to the inkstands
and the pens. "Aunt Amanda, do you know who those things belong to?"

"Who?"

"They belong to Sumner, Allen & Co.," replied Ferris, triumphantly.

"You are sure?" asked Saunders.

"I am, unless Carson will stick out for it that the firm gave them to
him," returned Ferris.

"Is that so?" questioned Mrs. Ricket.

"They were not given to me," replied Hal, promptly. "But I know who
brought them into the house."

"Who?"

"Your nephew, Mrs. Ricket. I am sorry for you, but I am telling the
truth."

"Dick a thief!"

"See here, do you know what