"Is Mrs. Tracy at home?" he asked of the servant who answered the bell.

 

"Yes, sir; what name shall I give?"

 

"Never mind about the name. Say it is an old friend."

 

"Won't you come in, sir?"

 

"Yes, I believe I will."

 

Mrs. Tracy received the message with surprise mingled with curiosity.

 

"Who can it be?" she asked herself.

 

She came downstairs without delay.

 

The stranger, who had taken a seat in the hall, rose and faced her.

 

"Don't you know me, Louisa?" he asked.

 

"Is it you, Warner?" she exclaimed, surprised and! startled.

 

"Yes," he answered, laughing. "It's a good while since we met."

 

"Five years. And have you----"

 

"What--reformed?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Well, I can't say as to that. I can only tell you that I am not wanted by the police at present. Is the old lady still alive?"

 

"Aunt Eliza?"

 

"Of course."

 

"Yes, she is alive and well."

 

"I thought perhaps she might have died, and left you in possession of her property."

 

"Not yet. I don't think she has any intention of dying for a considerable number of years."

 

"That is awkward. Has she done nothing for you?"

 

"We have a free home here, and she makes me a moderate allowance, but she is not disposed to part with much money while she lives."

 

"I am sorry for that. I thought you might be able to help me to some money. I am terribly hard up."

 

"You always were, no matter how much money you had."

 

"I never had much. The next thing is, how does the old lady feel toward me?"

 

"I don't think she feels very friendly, though nothing has passed between us respecting you for a long time. She has very strict notions about honesty, and when you embezzled your employer's money you got into her black books."

 

"That was a youthful indiscretion," said Warner, smiling. "Can't you convince her of that?"

 

"I doubt if I can lead her to think of it in that light."

 

"I know what that means, Louisa. You want to get the whole of the old lady's property for yourself and that boy of yours. You always were selfish."

 

"No, Warner, though I think I am entitled to the larger part of aunt's money, I don't care to have you left out in the cold. I will do what I can to reconcile her to you."

 

"Come, that's fair and square. You're a trump, Louisa. You have not forgotten that I am your brother."

 

"No, I am not so selfish as you think. If I don't succeed in restoring you to Aunt Eliza's good graces, and she chooses to leave me all her property, I promise to take care of you and allow you a fair income."

 

"That's all right, but I would rather the old lady would provide for me herself."

 

"Do you doubt my word?"

 

"No, but your idea of what would be a fair income might differ from mine. How much do you think the old lady's worth?"

 

"Quarter of a million, I should think," replied Mrs. Tracy, guardedly.

 

"Yes, and considerably more, too."

 

"Perhaps so. I have no means of judging."

 

"Supposing it to be the figure you name, how much would you be willing to give me, if she leaves me out in the cold?"