f
this fact. "If he did take those securities he wasn't stealing from
himself but from his creditors; for you see they were part of his
resources, and would have to be produced in case of a failure, to help
pay off his indebtedness."

"Yes, I think I manage to grasp that part of it now, Dick, though you
financial men should be more careful to explain such things to
greenhorns. Do you suppose he will be arrested and made to produce the
missing documents, son?" she asked, with a little laugh.

"Oh! I do not think so. Mr. Winslow said we hadn't a bit of evidence
against him more than suspicion, and that is a poor thing to go on. You
thought so in my case mother, anyway. He told me to leave it to him, and
in some way he'd find a chance to learn the truth."

"What would Mr. Graylock do with the papers in case he did take them out
of the envelope that day?" she asked.

"Why, I suppose he would be apt to carry them home and hide them.
Perhaps if some one could only watch him without his knowing it, the
truth might come out. If he does go under to-morrow, as Mr. Winslow
thinks possible, he will be apt to stay around here for some time
settling up his affairs; and all the while the missing securities would
be safe in the place he has hidden them. But how can anybody get into
his house to find them? Ferd wouldn't think of asking _me_ there; and if
his father found me under his roof there would be a row at once."

"Better leave all that to Mr. Winslow, my boy. From what you tell me I
fancy he is a keen young man, and surely he will think of some way
whereby the truth may be made known. At least I hope and pray that it
may be so. If that wicked man has been guilty of this terrible thing he
deserves to suffer."

So presently they fell to talking of happier things, and the plans
spoken of on the preceding night in connection with certain needful
repairs about the cottage were again taken up and discussed.

In anticipation of the coming good fortune Mrs. Morrison was already
beginning to feel that happiness lay before them; and had it not been
for this one cloud on the horizon of Dick's young business career she
would have believed herself without a wish ungratified.

As chance would have it while they were still talking some one drove up
to the gate in a little buggy and climbed down from the seat.

"I think it must be Lawyer Cheatham," said Dick, looking beyond the
porch; "I wonder what he wants here at this time of night.