“I don’t know anything about stock,” said Conrad.

“I do,” said Fred.  “If I had money I know what I’d buy.”

“What?” asked Conrad eagerly.

“Pacific Mail.”

“Do you think that’s going up?”

“I feel sure of it.  I overheard my boss and another broker talking about it yesterday, and they both predicted a bull movement in it.”

“Does that mean it’s going up?”

“To be sure.”

“I should like to buy some.”

“Have you got money to plank down as a margin?”

Conrad had in his pocketbook fifty dollars which he had collected for Mrs. Hamilton, being a month’s rent on a small store on Third Avenue.  It flashed upon him that with this money he could make fifty dollars for himself, and be able to pay back the original sum to Mrs. Hamilton as soon as the operation was concluded.

“Could you manage it for me, Fred?” he asked.

“Yes, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Then I’ll give you fifty dollars, and you do the best you can for me.  If I succeed I’ll make you a present.”

“All right.  I hope you’ll win, I am sure [illegible]”

Not giving himself time to think of the serious breach of trust he was committing, Conrad took the money from his pocket and transferred it to his companion.

“It won’t take long, will it?” he asked anxiously.

“Very likely the stock will be bought and sold to-morrow.”

“That will be splendid.  You’ll let me know right off?”

“Yes; I’ll attend to that.”

Conrad went home and reported to Mrs. Hamilton that the tenant had not paid, but would do so on Saturday.

Mrs. Hamilton was a little surprised, for the Third Avenue tenant had never before put her off.  Something in Conrad’s manner excited her suspicion, and she resolved the next day to call herself on Mr. Clark, the tenant.  He would be likely to speak of the postponement, and give reasons for it.

CHAPTER XXXV TURNING THE TABLES

“Now Conrad,” said Mrs. Hamilton, “will you tell me by what authority you send away my visitors?”

“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.