by my father. When he died it was all exhausted
except a hundred dollars. I took that and went to California with a man
named Luke Robbins, who has proved my faithful friend."

"What were you doing in California? Were you working at the mines?"

"No. I was keeping a store where I sold miners' supplies."

"Did it pay you well?"

"I was very well paid for a boy. When I left Oreville I was worth a
thousand dollars."

"That is well, but it is only a drop in the bucket compared with the
fortune you are entitled to."

"Now held by Mr. Stephen Ray?"

"Yes; he will be surprised to see you in the East."

"He has seen me," said Ernest quickly.

"What!" exclaimed the lawyer. "You have not called upon him?"

"No. I met him on the train and afterwards at a Buffalo hotel. My Cousin
Clarence was with him."

"Did you have any conference with them?"

"I talked with Clarence, not with his father."

"Did you think the father knew you?"

"Yes, but he did not speak to me."

"He told me when I called upon him some time ago that you were dead--that
you died in Georgia."

"What could have been his object?"

"He did not wish me to find you, for I had the proof that the estate was
rightfully yours."

"What led you to think I was alive?"

"I cross-examined Clarence, who did not know his father's desire to keep
us apart."

"Is the estate a large one?"

"Quarter of a million, at least."

Ernest's eyes opened wide with amazement.

"But I will introduce you to Mr. Norcross, my principal, and we will talk
over our plan of operations. You must assert your rights, and demand that
your grandfather's will be carried out. Are you content to place yourself
in our hands?"

"Entirely so. But I am sorry for Cousin Stephen. It will be a great blow
for him."

"Don't waste any pity upon him. He defrauded your father, and meant to
defraud you."

CHAPTER XXXVI

STEPHEN RAY ALARMED

"A gentleman to see you, sir."

This was the message brought to Stephen Ray by the servant one morning.

"Did he give his name?"

"No, sir."

"Very well; bring him up."

Mr. Ray was sitting at the desk in his library. He was looking over some
plans for the improvement of his handsome residence.

He proposed to enlarge a lower room by a bay window and to carry the
piazza round on each side. It would cost something, but his income was
ample--at least four times his expenditure.

He looked up as a handsomely dressed gentleman entered