e."

"You talk like a fool," said Philip, angrily, and went into the house.

"There'll be some news soon, I reckon," said Tom to himself, with a
grin. "I won't say nothing till the time comes. Wonder if Philip'll
think I am talking like a fool then?"

CHAPTER XXXV

THROWING SUSPICION ON HARRY

During the day Colonel Ross had no occasion to look into his trunk of
securities. Clearly, he had no suspicion that he had met with a loss.

It might strike the reader as curious that Philip began to be impatient
to have his father make the discovery. An impending blow always leads to
a state of suspense which is by no means agreeable. When the blow falls,
a certain relief is felt. So Philip knew that the discovery would be
made sooner or later, and he wanted to have the matter settled, and
clear himself at once from suspicion by diverting it to Harry Gilbert.

In the hope that his father would find out his loss, he lingered round
the house through the afternoon, filling up the time as well as he
could. Usually, he would have passed at least a part of the time with
James Congreve, but the latter had gone to the city.

"Don't you feel well, Philip?" asked his mother.

"Certainly! What makes you ask?"

"You don't generally stay at home all the afternoon."

"Oh, well, there isn't anything going on in the village."

"Where is that friend of yours who is staying at the hotel?"

"He went away this morning to the city."

"Isn't he coming back?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose so."

"I suppose you feel lonely without him?"

"Yes, mother."

"Have you seen anything of Uncle Obed lately?" asked Mrs. Ross, making a
wry face as she pronounced the word admitting the relationship.

"Yes; I saw him walking with the Gilbert boy the other evening."

"Did you speak to him?"

"No; I just nodded. I don't care about getting intimate with him. I wish
he'd leave town."

"As likely as not, he'll use up all his money, and then come on your
father for help."

"I hope father won't give him anything, then," said Philip.

"I am willing that he should give him enough to get him back to
Illinois. He ought never to have left there. If he thinks we are going
to pay his board here, all I can say is that he is very much mistaken,"
said Mrs. Ross, pressing her thin lips together with emphasis.

"That's the talk, ma! I am glad you don't mean to be imposed upon. I
suppose old Wilkins thinks you are soft, and