know that her protege visited a gambling house?"

"Yes."

"Mentioned it to him, I suppose?"

"Yes."

"Of course, he denied it?"

"No; he admitted it, but said he received a letter from a stranger
appointing to meet him there. It is rather curious that he couldn't
show the letter, however. He pretended he had lost it."

"Did Mrs. Hamilton believe him?"

"I don't know. I think not, for, though she has not discharged him,
she treats him very coldly."

"Have you any further information to give me?"

"No. I hope this will be of some service to you."

"I think it will. Thank you, and good-afternoon."

"There! I've prejudiced him against Ben," said Mrs. Hill to herself,
with a satisfied smile. "These detectives are glad of a hint, sharp
as they think themselves. If he finds out that it is Ben, he will
take all the credit to himself, and never mention me in the matter.
However, that is just what I wish. It is important that I should not
appear too active in getting the boy into trouble, or I may be thought
to be influenced by interested motives, though, Heaven knows, I only
want justice for myself and my boy. The sooner we get this boy out of
the house, the better it will be for us."

As Mr. Lynx left the house, he smiled to himself.

"That woman and her son hate Ben Barclay, that much is certain, and
look upon him as an interloper and a rival. I rather sympathize with
the poor fellow. I should be sorry to find him guilty, but I shall
not stop short till I have ferreted out the truth."

CHAPTER XXVII
THE TELLTALE TICKET

Conrad still had the pawnbroker's ticket which he had received in
return for the opera glasses, and did not quite know what to do with
it. He didn't intend to redeem the glass, and if found in his
possession, it would bring him under suspicion. Now that a detective
had the matter in charge, it occurred to him that it would be well to
have the ticket found in Ben's room.

The two had rooms upon the same floor, and it would, therefore, be
easy to slip into Ben's chamber and leave it somewhere about.

Now, it chanced that Susan, the chambermaid, was about, though Conrad
did not see her, when he carried out his purpose, and, instigated by
curiosity, she peeped through the half-open door, and saw him place
the ticket on the bureau.

Wondering what it was, she entered the room after Conrad had vacated
it, and found the ticket Conrad had placed there.

Susan knew what