l at the grocery store and tell them to send up a barrel of
flour?"

"All right."

Usually Philip, who was far from obliging naturally, made a fuss when
asked to do an errand, but now he spoke very good-humoredly. He was so
anxious to get out of the house that he was ready to promise anything.

"I really think Philip is improving," said his mother, after he had gone
out.

"There's some room for it," remarked his father, dryly.

Philip, as may be supposed, made his way as quickly as possible to the
hotel. As he came up, he saw the one of whom he was in search--James
Congreve--standing on the piazza, smoking a cigarette.

"Well?" he said, guessing something from the evident excitement of
Philip's manner.

"Let us go up to your room, Congreve," said Phil.

"All right."

He led the way upstairs to the small room which he occupied as a
bedroom, and Philip followed him in. The latter carefully closed the
door.

"I've got 'em," he exclaimed, triumphantly.

"The bonds? You don't say!"

"As true as you stand there."

"Let me see them."

Philip drew the bonds from his pocket, and handed them to Congreve.

The latter said, joyfully:

"You're a trump, Phil!"

"Yes, I think I managed pretty well," said Phil, complacently.

"Tell me how you did it."

So Phil explained.

"You were in precious luck, I can tell you. I had no idea things would
turn in your favor so. Let me see--here are two one-hundreds."

"Yes; that's what you said."

"True. Were there more in the trunk?"

"Yes; I heard father say there were a thousand dollars in bonds."

James Congreve's face was overspread by an expression of covetousness.

"It's a pity you didn't take more," he said.

"But what was the need of taking more? These will pay my debt to you."

"Of course. Still, it seemed such a good chance."

"You don't think I'm going to set up as a thief, do you, Congreve?"
asked Philip, in surprise.

"No, of course not. I didn't mean anything. Well, Phil, the sooner these
are disposed of the better."

"You are going to attend to that?"

"Yes. I believe I will take the next train up to the city."

"When will you be back?"

"To-night. I will bring you the balance of the money--say, fifty
dollars."

"There ought to be more than that for me."

"Oh, it will be all right! Only, you know, I will have to sell them
below the market price, at some place where no questions are asked."

"I've no doubt you'll do the square thing," s