“No, I don’t wish to believe you,” said the boy, looking her in the eye.

“You are very polite to doubt a lady’s word,” said Mrs. Brent with sarcasm.

“In such a matter as that I believe no one’s word,” said Phil.  “I ask for proof.”

“Well, I am prepared to satisfy you.  Sit down and I will tell you the story.”

Philip sat down on the nearest chair and regarded his step-mother fixedly.

“Whose son am I,” he demanded, “if not Mr. Brent’s?”

“You are getting on too fast.  Jonas,” continued his mother, suddenly turning to her hulking son, on whose not very intelligent countenance there was an expression of greedy curiosity, “do you understand that what I am going to say is to be a secret, not to be spoken of to any one?”

“Yes’m,” answered Jonas readily.

“Very well.  Now to proceed.  Philip, you have heard probably that when you were very small your father—­I mean Mr. Brent—­lived in a small town in Ohio, called Fultonville?”

“Yes, I have heard him say so.”

“Do you remember in what business he was then engaged?”

“He kept a hotel.”

“Yes; a small hotel, but as large as the place required.  He was not troubled by many guests.  The few who stopped at his house were business men from towns near by, or drummers from the great cities, who had occasion to stay over a night.  One evening, however, a gentleman arrived with an unusual companion—­in other words, a boy of about three years of age.  The boy had a bad cold, and seemed to need womanly care.  Mr. Brent’s wife——­”

“My mother?”

“The woman you were taught to call mother,” corrected the second Mrs. Brent, “felt compassion for the child, and volunteered to take care of it for the night.  The offer was gladly accepted, and you—­for, of course, you were the child—­were taken into Mrs. Brent’s own room, treated with simple remedies, and in the morning seemed much better.  Your father—­your real father—­seemed quite gratified, and preferred a request.  It was that your new friend would take care of you for a week while he traveled to Cincinnati on business.  After dispatching this, he promised to return and resume the care of you, paying well for the favor done him.  Mrs. Brent, my predecessor, being naturally fond of children, readily agreed to this proposal, and the child was left behind, while the father started for Cincinnati.”

Here Mrs. Brent paused, and Philip regarded her with doubt and suspense

“Well?” he said.

“Oh, you want to know the rest?” said Mrs. Brent with an ironical smile.  “You are interested in the story?”

“Yes, madam, whether it is true or not.”

“There isn’t much more to tell,” said Mrs. Brent.

“A week passed.  You recovered from your cold, and became as lively as ever.  In fact, you seemed to feel quite at home among your new surroundings, which was rather unfortunate, for your father never came back!”