"I didn't suppose you would want to see Ben," stammered Conrad.

 

"Why not?"

 

"After what he has done?"

 

"What has he done?"

 

"He stole your opera glass and pawned it."

 

"You are mistaken. It was stolen by a different person."

 

Conrad started uneasily, and his mother, who was not in the secret, looked surprised.

 

"I know who took the opera glass," continued Mrs. Hamilton.

 

"Who was it?" asked the housekeeper.

 

"Your son, I regret to say."

 

"This is a slander!" exclaimed Mrs. Hill angrily. "Cousin Hamilton, that boy has deceived you."

 

"My information did not come from Ben, if that is what you mean."

 

"My son would be incapable of stealing," continued Mrs. Hill.

 

"I should be glad to think so. It can easily be settled. Let Conrad go with me tomorrow to the pawnbroker from whom I recovered the glass, and see if he recognizes him."

 

"He would be sure to say it was me," stammered Conrad.

 

"At any rate he told me it was not Ben, who made no opposition to accompanying me."

 

"I see there is a plot against my poor boy," said Mrs. Hill bitterly.

 

"On the contrary, I shall be glad to believe him innocent. But there is another matter that requires investigation. Conrad, here is a letter which has come for you. Are you willing I should open and read it?"

 

"I don't like to show my letters," said Conrad sullenly.

 

"The boy is right," said his mother, always ready to back up her son.

 

"I have good reason for wishing to know the contents of the letter," said Mrs. Hamilton sternly. "I will not open it, unless Conrad consents, but I will call on the brokers and question them as to their motive in addressing it to a boy."

 

Conrad was silent. He saw that there was no escape for him.

 

"Shall I read it?" asked Mrs. Hamilton.

 

"Yes," answered Conrad feebly.

 

The letter was opened.

 

It ran thus:

 

"Mr. Conrad Hill:

 

"You will be kind enough to call at our office at once, and pay commission due us for buying add selling fifty shares Pacific Mail. The fall in the price of the stock, as we have already notified you, exhausted the money you placed in our hands as margin.

 

 

"Yours respectfully,"

"BIRD & BRANT."

 

 

"I hope, Cousin Hamilton, you won't be too hard on the poor boy," said the housekeeper. "He thought he would be able to replace the money."

 

"You and Conrad have done your best to prejudice me against Ben."

 

"You are mistaken," said the housekeeper quickly, showing some evidence of agitation.

 

"I have learned that the letter which lured Ben to a gambling house was concocted between you. The letter I have in my possession."

 

"Who told you such a falsehood? If it is Ben--"

 

"It is............