"

"And there is your mother," said the detective cheerfully, as a severe
face appeared at the white-curtained window.

Alexander wept afresh as Steel paid the cabman, and positively howled
when the door opened and his mother--a lean woman in a black dress, with
a widow's cap--appeared. He would have run away but that Steel again
had a hand on his collar.

"Alexander," cried his mother harshly, "what have you been doing?"

"Nothing very dreadful, ma'am," interposed Steel. "It will be all right.
Let me in, and I'll speak for my young friend."

"And who may you be, sir?" demanded Mrs. Benker, bristling.

"A personal friend of Mr. Asher's."

On hearing this dreaded name Mrs. Benker softened, and welcomed Steel
into a neat parlor, where he seated himself in a horsehair mahogany
chair of the most slippery description and related what had happened.
Alexander stood by and wept all the time. He wept more when his mother
spoke.

"I expected it," she said in quiet despair; "that boy is the bane of my
life. I'll speak to you shortly, Alexander. Go to your room and retire
to bed."

"Oh, mother! mother!" cried Master Benker, writhing at the prospect of a
thorough whipping.

"Go to your room, Alexander, and make ready," repeated the widow, with a
glare, and the boy retired slowly, wriggling and snuffling. When his
sobs died away and an upstairs door was heard to close with a bang, Mrs.
Benker addressed herself to Steel.

"I hope you will induce Mr. Asher to overlook this," she said, clasping
a pair of lean, mittened hands; "I am so poor."

"I'll do my best," responded Steel; "that is, if you will give me some
information about your late lodger, Mr. Wilson."

"Why should I do that?" asked Mrs. Benker suspiciously.

"Because Mr. Asher wishes to know all about him. You see, your son
allowed Mr. Wilson to serve this summons, and it is necessary that Mr.
Asher should learn where he is."

"That's only fair; but I don't know. Mr. Wilson has not returned here
since he left on the day before New Year."

"Did he leave any luggage behind him?"

"No, sir, he didn't." Mrs. Benker paused, then continued, "I'll tell you
exactly how it occurred, if Mr. Asher will make some allowance for the
wickedness of that wretched boy of mine."

"I'll see what can be done, and use my influence with Mr. Asher."

"Thank you, sir," said the widow gratefully. "Well, sir, I was absent
all the last day of the year, as I was seeing a married dau