the clerk.

"At three this afternoon."

Eben seemed well pleased with this reply. He carefully deposited the
tickets in an inside vest pocket, and turned to go out of the office. As
he emerged from it he caught sight of Herbert, who had not yet started
to go. He looked surprised and annoyed.

"Herbert Carr!" he exclaimed. "How came you here?"

Mingled with his surprise there was a certain nervousness of manner, as
Herbert thought.

"I came to Boston with Mr. Melville," said Herbert, coldly.

"Oh!" ejaculated Eben, with an air of perceptible relief. "Where is Mr.
Melville?"

"He has gone to the office of his physician, on Tremont Street."

"Leaving you to your own devices, eh?"

"Yes."

"Look out you don't get lost!" said Eben, with affected gayety. "I am
here on a little business for the old man."

Herbert did not believe this, in view of what he had seen, but he did
not think it necessary to say so.

"Good-morning!" said Herbert, in a tone polite but not cordial.

"Good-morning! Oh, by the way, I have just been inquiring the cost of a
ticket to St. Louis," said Eben, carelessly.

"Indeed! Do you think of going out there?"

"Yes, if the old man will let me," said Eben.

"Do you prefer St. Louis to Chicago?" asked Herbert, watching the face
of Eben attentively.

Eben's face changed, and he looked searchingly at our hero, but could
read nothing in his face.

"Oh, decidedly!" he answered, after a slight pause. "I don't think I
would care for Chicago."

"And all the while you have a ticket for Chicago in your pocket!"
thought Herbert, suspiciously, "Well, that's your own affair entirely,
not mine."

"What train do you take back to Wayneboro?" asked Eben, not without
anxiety.

"We shall not go before four o'clock."

"I may be on the train with you," said Eben, "though possibly I shall
get through in time to take an earlier one."

"He is trying to deceive me," thought Herbert.

"Good-morning," he said, formally, and walked away.

"I wish I hadn't met him," muttered Eben to himself. "He may give the
old man a clew. However, I shall be safe out of the way before anything
can be done."

Herbert kept on his way, and found the bank without difficulty.

He entered and looked about him. Though unaccustomed to banks, he
watched to see where others went to get checks cashed, and presented
himself in turn.

"How will you have it?" asked the paying teller.

"Fives and tens, and a few small bills,"