Ben Mayberry was born in Damietta, and his parents, as I have shown, were
extremely poor. He had been a barefooted urchin, who was ready to fight
or engage in any reckless undertaking. As he grew older and became more
thoughtful, he assumed better clothing, grew more studious, and, helped
by his fine ability and prepossessing looks, became popular.

In addition, his remarkable skill in athletic sports made him well liked
among the rougher element, who would have been glad had he consented to
"train with their crowd."

In spite of all this, Ben failed to secure the social recognition to
which he was entitled. Many who would greet him most cordially on the
street never thought of inviting him to their homes. Damietta had been a
city long enough to develop social caste, which lay in such distinct
strata that there seemed no possibility of their ever mingling together.

I was glad, therefore, when Dolly Willard called at the office and
personally invited Ben to attend the party at Mr. Grandin's, which was
one of the most aristocratic families in Damietta. They were originally
from the South, but had lived in the city a long time.

My young friend was somewhat dubious about going, as he had never before
been invited to cross the threshold; but there was no refusing the warm
invitation of Dolly, who had walked all the way to the office on purpose
to secure his presence at the gathering that evening.

Ben Mayberry was proud of Dolly; that is, proud that it had fallen to his
lot to befriend such a splendid girl, but there were several things that
made him thoughtful.

In the first place, my reader will recall that the cipher telegram which
was of such a compromising character was addressed to her uncle. Ben had
hunted out from the files in the office the first disguised message, and
it clearly referred to a contemplated robbery of one of the banks in
Damietta. This G. R. Burkhill was a criminal who was playing a desperate
game, in which he was likely to lose.

It was unfortunate that he was connected by relationship with Dolly
Willard, who was the cousin of the Grandins; but it was certainly
impossible that either Dolly, the Grandins, or Mrs. Willard herself, knew
the character of the man. Such was the view Ben took of the matter,
adding to himself:

"I hope he will keep away, and that nothing more of the intended robbery
will be heard. It is now the fall of the year, and they seemed to agree
that it was the time whe