in you."

"I did my best, sir."

"Tell me all about it. My curiosity is excited."

Fred gave a rapid account of his adventures in search of the missing
bonds. It was listened to with equal interest by the banker and his
friend.

"Wainwright, introduce me," said Henderson abruptly.

"Fred," said the banker smiling, "let me make you acquainted with my
friend, Arthur Henderson. He is a commission merchant. He may have a
proposal to make to you."

"Young man, if you will enter my employment I will pay you twenty
dollars a week," said merchant.

Fred looked amazed.

"That is a great deal more than I am worth," said.

"Then you accept?"

Fred looked wistfully at Mr. Wainwright.

"I should not like to leave Mr. Wainwright," he said.

"Especially as he has raised your pay to twenty-five dollars a week,"
said the banker smiling.

"You can't be in earnest, sir?"

"When you get your first week's salary on Saturday, you will see that I
am in earnest."

"I see, then, that I must do without you," said the merchant.
"Wainwright, I take back all I said. I advise you to keep Fred by all
means as long as he will stay with you."

The banker had opened his check book and was writing out a check. He
tore it from the book and handed it to Fred. It ran thus:

No. 10,531

PARK NATIONAL BANK.
Pay to the order of FRED FENTON
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

$1000.

JOHN WAINWRIGHT.

"Is this for me?" asked Fred in amazement.

"Yes. I ought perhaps to make it more, for it is less than ten per
cent. of the value of the bonds."

"How can I thank you, sir?" ejaculated Fred, feeling uncertain whether
he was awake or dreaming. "I feel like a millionaire."

"Have you been home yet, Fred?"

"No, sir; I came here at once."

"Go home, then, and spend the rest of the day with your mother. Do you
want to cash the check this morning?"

"No, sir."

"Indorse it, then, and I will hand you the money in bills to-morrow."

Fred, his face radiant with joy, left the office, and going to the
nearest station on the Sixth Avenue Elevated Road bought a ticket and
rode up town.

There a surprise awaited him.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A LETTER FROM TOM SLOAN.

When Fred presented himself at home, after a fortnight's absence, his
mother and little brother were overjoyed.

"It's been awfully lonely since you went away, Fred," said Albert.

"I have felt like Albert