chap when at work.
Well, he got into a gambling brawl, and this morning they brought him
in, done up."

"Done up?"

"Yes; killed, you know."

"Oh!"

"And so, you see, I am ordered down here to take the instructions of
my gentleman, in the place of my pard, who won't receive any more
orders here below."

"Then you don't yet know precisely what is required of you?"

"No; I was packed off at half an hour's notice, and don't even know
the name of my employer. I have my instructions and his address here,"
tapping his breast pocket. "I believe the party lives out of town, at
some manor or other."

Clarence was thinking very fast. There was but one "Manor" in or near
Bellair. He looked at his time-card; there was but one town between
them and that village. Holding the card in his hand he said:

"Well, I will try and tell you what I want done; that is, if there is
time--how soon do you leave the train?"

Jarvis now scented a fat job, and thinking only of getting the
particulars of that replied, rather incautiously, as he consulted the
time-card in the hand of Clarence.

"By goshen! it's only two stations off--Bellair."

"Oh! Bellair, eh?"

Jarvis nodded ruefully, and then asked: "Where do you land?"

Clarence smiled a little as he replied: "Wait until you hear my
business, then you will know where I am going."

"All right; fire away."

And the expert settled himself into a listening attitude. "The truth
is, Jarvis, I want you back on the old case."

"What, the gambler's?"

"Yes, Davlin; he is about at the end of his rope, and will, in a short
time, be trying to quit the country. Did you ever see the woman who is
his partner in iniquity? You heard considerable of her while looking
up this business."

"Heard of her? I should think so. Never saw her, though."

"No matter; you may see her soon. You see, they are now at work upon a
fine piece of rascality. She has actually married an old man,
supposing him to be wealthy, and Davlin is figuring as her brother.
In reality, the old man, their victim, holds only a life interest in
the property. So you see, even if they succeed with the thing in hand,
they won't make much. And the person who will inherit, after the old
gentleman passes away, is aware of their real character and is ready
to spring upon them at the proper moment."

Jarvis gave a long, low whistle.

"Now, then, there is another crime--one that occurred some years ago,
with which this man and wo