ve
minutes with her innocent prattle. The Hopgoods understood the cause of
his predilection and were silent. It was the one thing Mrs. Hopgood
never alluded to in her gossips with Mrs. Kirkshaw. But to-day the
attentions of Mr. Sylvester to the little one seemed to make the janitor
restless. He walked up and down the narrow room uneasily surveying the
pair out of the corner of his great glassy eyes, till even Mr. Sylvester
noticed his unusual manner and put the child down, observing with a
sigh, "You think she is not well enough for any excitement?"

"No sir, it is not that," returned the other uneasily, with a hasty look
around him. "The fact is, I have something to say to you, sir, about--a
discovery--I made the other day." His words came very slowly, and he
looked down with great embarrassment.

Mr. Sylvester frowned slightly, and drew himself up to the full height
of his very imposing figure. "A discovery," repeated he, "when?"

"The day you paid that early visit to the bank, sir, the day Mrs.
Sylvester died."

The frown on Mr. Sylvester's brow grew deeper. "The day--" he began, and
stopped.

"Excuse me, sir," exclaimed Hopgood with a burst. "I ought not to have
mentioned it, but you asked me _when_, and I--"

"What was this discovery?" inquired his superior, imperatively.

"Nothing much," murmured the other now all in a cold sweat. "But I felt
as if I ought to tell you. You have been my benefactor, sir, I can never
forget what you have done for me and mine. If I saw death or bereavement
between me and any favor I could do for you, sir, I would not hesitate
to risk them. I am no talker, sir, but I am true and I am grateful." He
stopped, choked, and his eyes rolled frightfully. Mr. Sylvester looked
at him, grew a trifle pale, and put the little child away that was
nestling up against his knee.

"You have not told me what you have discovered," said he.

"Well, sir, only this." And he took from his pocket a small roll of
paper which he unfolded and held out in his hand. It contained a gold
tooth-pick somewhat bent and distorted.

A flush dark and ominous crept over Mr. Sylvester's cheek. He glanced
sternly at the trembling janitor, and uttered a short, "Well?"

"I found it on the floor of the bank just after you went out the other
morning," the other pursued well-nigh inaudibly. "It was lying near the
safe. As it was not there when you went in, I took it for granted it was
yours. Am I right, sir?"

The a