prosperity didn't agree. Whatever his allowance might be, he wished
to spend more. Looking upon himself as Mrs. Hamilton's heir, he could
not understand the need or expediency of saving money. He was not
wholly to blame for this, as his mother encouraged him in hopes which
had no basis except in his own and her wishes.

Not quite three weeks after Ben had become established his new home he
received a letter which mystified and excited him.

It ran thus:

"If you will come at nine o'clock this evening to No. ---- West
Thirty-first Street, and call for me, you will hear something to your
advantage.
James Barnes."

"It may be something relating to my father's affairs," thought Ben.
"I will go."

CHAPTER XXIII
BEN'S VISIT TO THIRTY-FIRST STREET

Ben's evenings being unoccupied, he had no difficulty in meeting the
appointment made for him. He was afraid Conrad might ask him to
accompany him somewhere, and thus involve the necessity of an
explanation, which he did not care to give until he had himself found
out why he had been summoned.

The address given by James Barnes was easy to find. Ben found himself
standing before a brick building of no uncommon exterior. The second
floor seemed to be lighted up; the windows were hung with crimson
curtains, which quite shut out a view of what was transpiring within.

Ben rang the bell. The door was opened by a colored servant, who
looked at the boy inquiringly.

"Is Mr. Barnes within?" asked Ben.

"I don't know the gentleman," was the answer.

"He sent me a letter, asking me to meet him here at nine o'clock."

"Then I guess it's all right. Are you a telegraph boy?"

"No," answered Ben, in surprise.

"I reckon it's all right," said the negro, rather to himself than to
Ben. "Come upstairs."

Ben followed his guide, and at the first landing a door was thrown
open. Mechanically, Ben followed the servant into the room, but he
had not made half a dozen steps when he looked around in surprise and
bewilderment. Novice as he was, a glance satisfied him that he was in
a gambling house. The double room was covered with a soft, thick
carpet, chandeliers depended from the ceiling, frequent mirrors
reflecting the brilliant lights enlarged the apparent size the
apartment, and a showy bar at one end of the room held forth an
alluring invitation which most failed to resist. Around tables were
congregated men, young and o