“Good-evening, Lavinia,” said Mr. Carter calmly.  “I shall be glad to see you whenever you feel like calling.”

“When you have discharged that boy, I may call again,” said Mrs. Pitkin spitefully.

“You will have to wait some time, then.  I am quite capable of managing my own affairs.”

When Mr. Pitkin had left the house, by no means in a good humor, Phil turned to his employer and said gratefully: 

“I don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Carter, for your kind confidence in me.  I admit that the story I told you is a strange one, and I could not have blamed you for doubting me.”

“But I don’t doubt you, my dear Philip,” said Mr. Carter kindly.

“Nor I,” said Mrs. Forbush.  “I feel provoked with Lavinia and her husband for trying to throw discredit upon your statement.”

“In fact,” said Mr. Carter humorously, “the only one of us that suspected you was Julia.”

“Oh, Uncle Oliver!” exclaimed Julia, in dismay.  “I never dreamed of doubting Phil.”

“Then,” said Mr. Carter, “it appears that you have three friends, at least.”

“If,” said Phil? “you would allow me to make up part of the loss, by surrendering a part of my salary——­”

“Couldn’t be thought of, Philip!” said Uncle Oliver resolutely.  “I don’t care for the money, but I should like to know how the thief happened to know that to-day you received money instead of a check.”

Without saying a word to Phil, Uncle Oliver called the next day on a noted detective and set him to work ferreting out the secret.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The false heir.

In the suburbs of Chicago, perhaps a dozen miles from the great city, stands a fine country house, in the midst of a fine natural park.  From the cupola which surmounts the roof can be seen in the distance the waters of Lake Michigan, stretching for many miles from north to south and from east to west, like a vast inland sea.

The level lawns, the greenhouses, the garden with rare plants and flowers, show clearly that this is the abode of a rich man.  My readers will be specially interested to know that this is the luxurious and stately home of Mr. Granville, whose son’s fortunes we have been following.

This, too, is the home of Mrs. Brent and Jonas, who, under false representations, have gained a foothold in the home of the Western millionaire.

Surely it is a great change for one brought up like Jonas to be the recognized heir and supposed son of so rich a man!  It is a change, too, for his mother, who, though she dare not avow the relationship, is permitted to share the luxury of her son.  Mrs. Brent has for her own use two of the best rooms in the mansion, and so far as money can bring happiness, she has every right to consider herself happy.

Is she?

Not as happy as she anticipated.  To begin with, she is always dreading that some untoward circumstance will reveal the imposition she has practiced upon Mr. Granville.  In that case what can she expect but to be ejected in disgrace from her luxurious home?  To be sure, she will have her husband’s property left, but it would be a sad downfall and descent in the social scale.