is trying all he can to get on aunt's weak side. Something will have
to be done, or we shall be left out in the cold."

CHAPTER XXV

MRS. TRACY'S BROTHER

A day or two later, while Mrs. Merton was in the city shopping,
accompanied by Luke, a man of thirty years of age ascended the steps
of the house on Prairie Avenue and rang the bell.

"Is Mrs. Tracy at home?" he asked of the servant who answered the
bell.

"Yes, sir; what name shall I give?"

"Never mind about the name. Say it is an old friend."

"Won't you come in, sir?"

"Yes, I believe I will."

Mrs. Tracy received the message with surprise mingled with curiosity.

"Who can it be?" she asked herself.

She came downstairs without delay.

The stranger, who had taken a seat in the hall, rose and faced her.

"Don't you know me, Louisa?" he asked.

"Is it you, Warner?" she exclaimed, surprised and! startled.

"Yes," he answered, laughing. "It's a good while since we met."

"Five years. And have you----"

"What--reformed?"

"Yes."

"Well, I can't say as to that. I can only tell you that I am not
wanted by the police at present. Is the old lady still alive?"

"Aunt Eliza?"

"Of course."

"Yes, she is alive and well."

"I thought perhaps she might have died, and left you in possession of
her property."

"Not yet. I don't think she has any intention of dying for a
considerable number of years."

"That is awkward. Has she done nothing for you?"

"We have a free home here, and she makes me a moderate allowance, but
she is not disposed to part with much money while she lives."

"I am sorry for that. I thought you might be able to help me to some
money. I am terribly hard up."

"You always were, no matter how much money you had."

"I never had much. The next thing is, how does the old lady feel
toward me?"

"I don't think she feels very friendly, though nothing has passed
between us respecting you for a long time. She has very strict notions
about honesty, and when you embezzled your employer's money you got
into her black books."

"That was a youthful indiscretion," said Warner, smiling. "Can't you
convince her of that?"

"I doubt if I can lead her to think of it in that light."

"I know what that means, Louisa. You want to get the whole of the old
lady's property for yourself and that boy of yours. You always were
selfish."

"No, Warner, though I think I am entitled to the larger part of aunt's
money, I don't care to hav