p, and
hurrying forward, handed it to the gentleman. He seemed surprised and
pleased.

"'My boy,' he said, 'you have done me a great service. That wallet
contained fifteen hundred dollars. I should have lost it but for you.
Accept this watch and chain as a mark of my deep gratitude.'

"With that, he took the watch from his pocket, and handed it to me. I
was not sure whether I ought to take it, but I have long wanted a gold
watch, and he seemed well able to afford the gift, so I took it."

Mrs. Tracy never thought of doubting this plausible story.

"Harold," she said, "I am proud of you. I think there was no objection
to accepting the watch. What do you say, Aunt Eliza?"

"Let me look at the watch, Harold," said the old lady, not replying to
her niece's question.

Harold passed it over complacently. He rather plumed himself on the
ingenious story he had invented.

"What do you think of it, Warner?" asked Mrs. Merton, passing it to
her nephew.

"It is rather a cheap watch for a rich man to carry," answered Warner,
taking it in his hand and opening it.

"I am sure it is quite a handsome watch," said Mrs. Tracy.

"Yes, it is large and showy, but it is low-grade gold."

"Of course, I don't know anything about that," said Harold. "At any
rate, it is gold and good enough for me."

"No doubt of that," said the old lady, dryly.

"Rich men don't always carry expensive watches," said Mrs. Tracy.
"They are often plain in their tastes."

"This watch is rather showy," said Warner. "It can't be called
plain."

"At any rate, Harold has reason to be satisfied. I am glad he obtained
the watch in so creditable a manner. If it had been your protege, Aunt
Eliza, I suspect he would have kept the money,"

"I don't think so, Louisa," said Mrs. Merton, quietly. "I have perfect
confidence in Luke's honesty."

"In spite of your lost pocketbook?"

"Yes; there is nothing to connect Luke with that."

Harold thought he ought to get the advantage of the trick played upon
Luke in the morning.

"I don't know as I ought to say anything," he said, hesitating, "but I
met Luke this morning, and if I am not very much mistaken, I saw in
his pocket a wallet that looked very much like aunt's. You know he
wears a sack coat, and has a pocket on each side."

Again Mrs. Merton and Warner exchanged glances.

"This is important!" said Mrs. Tracy, in excitement. "Did you speak to
him on the subject?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I thought he