ard, and have ten dollars left over. It would be very
comfortable to have ten dollars to spend, and Percy, whose conscience
was not sensitive, began to consider what would be the pleasantest way
of disposing of it. He soon came to a decision on this point, having,
like most boys, rather a talent for spending money.

"I'll go round by the hotel," he said to himself, "and if I find Reg
there I'll pay him what I owe him and get it off my mind."

Percy walked around to the Lake House, and found Reginald Ward in the
billiard room. Ward treated him rather coldly.

"Good-morning, Percy," he said.

"Good-morning, Reg."

"I hope you have come prepared to pay me what you owe me. I may have to
go back to New York to-morrow."

"I wish he would," thought Percy. "Then, if there's any trouble about
this money, he will be well out of the way, and nobody can find out
about it."

"I can pay you to-night," said Percy.

"You can? You're a trump!" said Reginald, in gratified surprise.

"Suppose we go up to your room," went on Percy nervously, "and don't
talk about it here. I don't want anybody to know that I am owing you any
money."

"I understand. The governor wouldn't like it, hey?"

"No, he'd be awful mad."

"Follow me, then, Percy," and Ward led the way up to his room.

"Lock the door," said Percy.

"Seems to me we are mighty mysterious," commented Ward, laughing. "Oh,
well; anything to accommodate. Now, where are the spondulicks?"

"Can you change a twenty-dollar bill?" asked Percy.

"Whew! you are wealthy," said Ward, in surprise. "Let me see!" and he
opened his pocket book. "Much as ever," he replied, after investigating
the contents. "Here is a five, a two, a silver dollar, and I think I can
make up two dollars in small change. It'll take up about all I've got."

"Then perhaps you'd rather wait till I have a chance to get the bill
changed," suggested Percy.

"Not much," returned Reginald, with a crafty smile. "'A bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush,' as somebody says. I am willing to be
inconvenienced for the sake of getting the debt paid."

"Oh, well; just as you say," rejoined Percy, secretly glad to get the
tell-tale bill out of his possession, and to replace it in his pocket
with the smaller bills and silver which Ward proposed to give him.

When the transfer was made, Ward asked, "Where did you raise the twenty,
Percy?"

Now it was that Percy looked embarrassed.

"It is some money I had given t