“On receiving this letter my uncle, on my behalf, took measures to claim this sum, and for this purpose came to Boston.  Imagine his surprise and indignation when the lawyer positively denied having received any such deposit and called upon him, to prove it.  With great effrontery he declared that it was absurd to suppose that my father would have entrusted him with any such sum without a receipt for it.  This certainly looked plausible, and I acknowledge that few except my father, who never trusted without trusting entirely, would have acted so imprudently.

" ’Where is the clerk who was in your office at the time?” inquired my uncle.

The lawyer looked somewhat discomposed at this question.

" ’Why do you ask?’he inquired abruptly.

" ‘Because,’ was the reply, ’his evidence is very important to us.  My brother states that he was present when the deposit was made.’

" ‘I don’t know where he is,’ said the lawyer.  ’He was too dissipated to remain in my office, and I accordingly discharged him.’

“My uncle suspected that the clerk had been bribed to keep silence, and for additional security sent off to some distant place.

“Nothing could be done.  Strong as our suspicions, and absolute as was our conviction of the lawyer’s guilt, we had no recourse.  But from that time I devoted my life to the exposure of this man.  Fortunately I was not without means.  The other half of my father’s property came to me; and the interest being considerably more than I required for my support, I have devoted the remainder to, prosecuting inquiries respecting the missing clerk.  Just before I came to Rossville, I obtained a clue which I have since industriously followed up.

“Last night I received a letter from my agent, stating that he had found the man—­that he was in a sad state of destitution, and that he was ready to give his evidence.”

“Is the lawyer still living?” inquired Frank.

“He is.”

“What a villain he must be.”

“I am afraid he is, Frank.”

“Does he still live in Boston?”

“No.  After he made sure of his ill-gotten gains, he removed into the country, where he built him a fine house.  He has been able to live a life of leisure; but I doubt if he has been as happy as he would have been had he never deviated from the path of rectitude.”

“Have you seen him lately?” asked Frank.

“I have seen him many times within the last few months,” said the young man, in a significant tone.

Frank jumped to his feet in surprise.  “You don’t mean——­” he said, as a sudden suspicion of the truth dawned upon his mind.

“Yes,” said Mr. Morton deliberately, “I do mean that the lawyer who defrauded my father lives in this village.  You know him well as Squire Haynes.”

“I can hardly believe it,” said Frank, unable to conceal his astonishment.  “Do you think he knows who you are?”