When Harry entered the office of Mr. Wheeler, the lawyer was engaged with a client. He nodded pleasantly to our hero, and said:

"I shall be at leisure very soon. You will find the morning paper on that table."

When his interview with the client was over, he beckoned to Harry to approach.

"Well," he said, "thanks to your good management, we have triumphantly succeeded. The stolen property is recovered, and the thieves are in custody."

"It was not so much good management as good luck," said Harry.

"Partly both; but, however that may be, the owner of the property authorizes me to make a substantial acknowledgment for the service you have rendered him. Let me see--the reward offered was two hundred and fifty dollars."

"That's too much, sir."

"The gentleman who gives it does not think so. Indeed, he authorizes me to somewhat exceed it. In this envelope"--here the lawyer produced a large-size package--"you will find two one-hundred-dollar government bonds and one fifty. The value of the three, at present prices, is nearer three hundred dollars than two hundred and fifty. I need not caution you to take good care of them."

"Are they for me?" asked Harry, his cheeks flushing with pleasure.

"Yes; they are six per cent. bonds, and will bring you fifteen dollars a year in interest--not quite enough to live upon," the lawyer added, with a smile, "but something to add to your income."

"I can hardly realize that I am worth so much money," said Harry, as he took the package and put it into his inside coat pocket.

"Have you a watch?" asked Mr. Wheeler.

"No, sir," replied Harry, in surprise.

"I thought not; and I, therefore, ask you to accept one as a gift, not from my client, but from me."

He produced a handsome silver watch, manufactured at Waltham, with a silver chain attached.

Now, Harry had long wanted a watch, but the prospect of obtaining one before he was of age had seemed very remote. At the moment, I think, the present of the watch gratified him as much as that of the bonds, though the latter were ten times as valuable.

"It is beautiful," he said; "but, Mr. Wheeler, why should you give me a present? The bonds were not yours."

"That is true, but they were under my charge, and I should have been seriously troubled had they not been recovered. Take the watch, my boy, and I hope it will please you as much to receive it as it does me to give it."

"Thank you, sir," said Harry, warmly. "It seems to me there is no end to my good fortune."

"Continue to deserve it, my boy, and I think it will continue. I must bid you good-morning now, as I have another appointment."

"Good-morning, sir, and thank you."

"By the way," the lawyer added, "I shall bear you in mind, and, should I have any work which I think you can do, I will send for you."

"I shall be glad to serve you in any way, sir."

So saying, Harry left the office. He was so much in a hurry to show his present at home that, though it was still early, he decided to take the next train, which would bring him home about noon.

His mother and Mr. Wilkins had just seated themselves at the dinner table when Harry entered.

"What! home already, Harry?" asked his mother, in surprise.

"I judge from your tone, mother, that you haven't got enough dinner for me," said Harry, gayly.

"If that's the case, I'll eat a little less," said Uncle Obed. "But why didn't you stay longer?"

"Because I got through with my business, and thought I might as well come home," answered Harry.

By this time his mother's eyes happened to fall on the silver chain displayed across his vest.

"What is that, Harry?" she asked.

Harry drew out the watch, with pardonable pride.

"Where did you get it?" asked his mother, in amazement.

"A lawyer in New York gave it to me."

"But what lawyer do you know, my son?" asked his mother, more and more bewildered.

"That isn't............