“Where is the money?” said Quincy.

“It is down in my old room, No. 24, one flight down from here, at the other end of the hallway.  I have got a key that will open the door.  I made it myself.  I nearly got in there the other day, but they caught me before I had a chance to open the door.  If you can get in there take up the fourth brick from the window, second row from the front of the fireplace, and you will find the bonds in an old leather wallet.  What time is it?” he asked quickly.

“Half-past eleven,” replied Quincy.

“Now is your time,” said the man; “all the hands have their dinner from half-past eleven to twelve; at twelve they feed us; take this key, and if you get the money, for God’s sake come around to-morrow and let me know.  I sha’n’t sleep a wink till I hear from you.”

Quincy pressed the sick man’s hand and left the room.  He went downstairs on tiptoe and quickly reached room No. 24.  He listened; all was quiet; it took but an instant to open the door, and, slipping quietly in, he locked it after him.  With some difficulty he found the wallet, looked inside and saw five one thousand dollar United States bonds.  He put the wallet in his pocket, replaced the brick, and listened at the door; all was quiet.  He unlocked it, slipped out, locked it, and was retracing his steps, when he saw Sam coming upstairs at the other end of the hallway.

“I think I took the wrong turn,” said Quincy.  “I thought I came up that way.”

“No,” said Sam; “that’s the back way.”

“Thank you,” said Quincy, as he ran lightly downstairs.  At the foot he met Mr. Waters.

“Well, is he any relative of yours?” asked Waters.

“I don’t know yet,” replied Quincy; “he has given me some facts, and I am going to write to Boston, and when I hear from there I will be able to answer your question.  I will come around in a few days, as soon as I hear from the city.”

Quincy jumped into his team and drove to Eastborough Centre post office to see if there were any letters for him.

When he reached the post office he found a letter from his father, informing him his mother and sisters were going to New York for a two weeks’ visit and would very much like to see him if he would run up the next day.

Quincy’s mind was made up instantly.  He drove to the hotel, left the team, with instructions to have it ready for him when he came down on the express that reached Eastborough Centre at 7.15 P.M., ran for the station and caught on to the back platform of the last car as it sped on its way to Boston.

Arriving there, he first took a hasty lunch, then hiring a coupe by the hour, drove to his bank on State Street.  Here he left the bonds with instructions to write to Eastborough Centre the amount realized from them and passed to the credit of his account.

His next trip was to his father’s house on Beacon Street, where he found his mother and sisters.  They were overjoyed to see him, and his younger sister declared that he had grown better looking since he went away.  She wanted to know if he had fallen in love with a country girl.  Quincy replied that his heart was still free and if it wasn’t for the law he would have her for his wife, and no one else.  Maude laughed and slapped him.