ll not talk about this to anybody. It would ruin
me should a whisper of such an outrageous charge get out. Will you
promise not to say anything until you have seen with your own eyes that
all is right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well; then you shall know all about it in a very little while."

Uncle Ellis looked much relieved. A bit of color was coming back to his
cheek, and he rose to his feet with a little more steadiness.

"I shall rely on you both to protect my good name," he said, in parting.
"Good-night." And he walked from the room.

Ray drew a long sigh when he had gone.

"Clyde, is it true," he asked, "that uncle has lost ten thousand
dollars?"

"Yes, Ray. I wouldn't have believed it had I not heard him confess it
with his own lips. He took it from the money that father left us and
sunk it in speculating."

"One more thing, Clyde. Why did you want to count the money we have? You
said it was for something very important."

"And so it is. Ray, you and I have got lots of work ahead of us. But I
mustn't stop to tell you about it now. Uncle is not telling the truth,
and is up to something, I am sure. I must find out what it is. He won't
let the night pass without hatching up some scheme to pull the wool over
my eyes. You stay around here and keep watch, and if he leaves the house
I will follow him."

CHAPTER V.

Uncle Ellis Seeks Advice.

Clyde stole down the stairs carefully and listened at the head of the
flight leading from the hall. As he had suspected, Uncle Ellis was going
out. He had just taken his hat from the rack and was walking toward the
door.

Clyde waited until his uncle had reached the street, and then followed.
The bright moon had gone behind a bank of clouds, but from the piazza he
could make out his uncle's form moving slowly up the street.

The house faced on the avenue running at right angles to the water. It
was situated midway between two streets which crossed it and ran through
the heart of the town, but a short distance away.

One of these streets Mr. Ellis turned into, and Clyde quickly took the
other one. He could move faster than his uncle, and by hurrying he could
reach the main street ahead of him.

This he did, and was awaiting his uncle behind a door not far from the
post office.

The post office was in a small building and occupied the lower floor. A
stairway next to the office ran to the second floor, and opening from
the hallway above