f his lawyer. He did not think much of it,
supposing it related to some minor matter of business. The letter ran
thus:

"ALLAN ROSCOE, ESQ.:

"DEAR SIR: Be kind enough to come up to the city at once. Business of
great importance demands your attention.

"Yours respectfully, TIMOTHY TAPE."

"Mr. Tape is unusually mysterious," said Allan Roscoe to himself,
shrugging his shoulders. "I will go up to-day. I have nothing to keep me
at home."

Mr. Roscoe ordered the carriage, and drove to the depot. Guy, noticing
his departure, asked permission to accompany him.

"Not to-day, Guy," he answered. "I am merely going up to see my lawyer."

Two hours later Mr. Roscoe entered the office of his lawyer.

"Well, Tape, what's up?" he asked, in an easy tone. "Your letter was
mysterious."

"I didn't like to write explicitly," said Mr. Tape, gravely.

"The matter, you say, is of great importance?"

"It is, indeed! It is no less than a claim for the whole of your late
brother's estate."

"Who is the claimant?" asked Allan Roscoe, perturbed.

"Your nephew, Hector."

"I have no nephew Hector. The boy called Hector Roscoe is an adopted son
of my brother."

"I know you so stated. He says he is prepared to prove that he is the
lawful son of the late Mr. Roscoe."

"He can't prove it!" said Allan Roscoe, turning pale.

"He has brought positive proof from California, so he says."

"Has he, then, returned?" asked Allan, his heart sinking.

"He is in the city, and expects us to meet him at two o'clock this
afternoon, at the office of his lawyer, Mr. Parchment."

Now, Mr. Parchment was one of the most celebrated lawyers at the New
York bar, and the fact that Hector had secured his services showed Allan
Roscoe that the matter was indeed serious.

"How could he afford to retain so eminent a lawyer?" asked Allan Roscoe,
nervously.

"Titus Newman, the millionaire merchant, backs him."

"Do you think there is anything in his case?" asked Allan, slowly.

"I can tell better after our interview at two o'clock."

At five minutes to two Allan Roscoe and Mr. Tape were ushered into the
private office of Mr. Parchment.

"Glad to see you, gentlemen," said the great lawyer, with his usual
courtesy.

Two minutes later Hector entered, accompanied by Mr. Newman. Hector
nodded coldly to his uncle. He was not of a vindictive nature, but he
could not forget that this man, his own near relative, had not only
deprived him of his property,