other. She would set him aright, she would
solve his difficulty. Happy the boy who has such a mother!

Of course he had to wait some time for the answer, and the waiting was
tedious. Charlie gave up the check as lost, and said no more about it,
and Will took so great an aversion to the porter, who he was sure was
the thief, that he hated to come in contact with him. But the mother's
letter was worth waiting for, and Will acted on its advice.

Late one afternoon he wended his way to the narrow street where lived
Grimes, the porter. It was a noisome locality. Will could not help
thinking what a contrast it was to the quiet, clean town where he was
born, and where his mother still lived! These dirty, narrow, crowded
city slums, what wonder that all sorts of crime are born in them!

He found the house, and through the dark wretched stairway at last came
to a door, at which he knocked.

"Come in," was the response.

He entered, stumbling over heaps of unwashed clothing. Two or three
forlorn-looking children were eating at a wretchedly uninviting table in
the midst of these surroundings. A feeble-looking woman was on a bed.

"Is Grimes at home?" asked Will.

"No, sir, he's not; and I beg pardon for letting you come in. My washing
was half done when I was took down with a turn, and Grimes is looking
now for some one to do what I am unable to do."

"Will he soon be in, do you think?"

"Yes, sir; have a chair; he'll be in presently."

"I will wait outside," said Will, glad of the excuse to get out. He
waited in the dim light of a dirty window outside, and wished he had
about a gallon of Cologne water at hand. Soon Grimes came, looking tired
and cross. When he saw Will he grew pale, but asked him, in a smothered
voice, what he wanted.

"I have come to speak about that check of Charlie Graham's," said Will.

Grimes grew red and angry, swore roundly that he knew nothing of it, and
threatened to pitch Will down stairs.

Will very firmly replied that he had seen Grimes take it, and that
unless he was willing to make reparation, his employers would have to be
told of it.

At this the man wavered a little, but still stoutly denied the theft. At
this moment the door, which was ajar, was pushed wider open, and the
woman's head came peering out; then the children followed, but they were
speedily sent down into the street.

Grimes retreated into the room; Will followed, not without some tremors,
but that letter of his mot