“I have been wishing to see you, for I have a secret of importance to communicate,” said Mr. Raynor.

“If it relates to my parents, I know it already,” said Phil.

“No; it is something to your advantage.  In revealing it I make Mrs. Brent my enemy, and shall forfeit the help she is giving me.”

“If it is really of advantage to me, and I am able to make up your loss to you, I will do it,” said Phil.

“That is sufficient.  I will trust to your honor.  You look like a boy who will keep a promise though not legally bound.”

“You only do me justice, Mr. Raynor.”

“Then cast your eye upon this paper and you will know the secret.”

“Is it a will?” exclaimed Phil, in surprise.

“Yes, it is the will of the late Gerald Brent.  By it he bequeaths to you five thousand dollars.”

“Then he did not forget me,” said Phil, more pleased with the assurance that he had been remembered than by the sum of money bequeathed to him.  “But why have I not known this before?” he asked, looking up from the will.

“You must ask that of Mrs. Brent!” said Mr. Raynor significantly.

“Do you think she suppressed it purposely?”

“I do,” answered Raynor laconically.

“I must see her.  Where can I find her?”

“I can only say that her letters to me are mailed in Chicago, but she scrupulously keeps her address a secret.”

“Then I must go to Chicago.  May I take this paper with me?”

“Yes.  I advise you to put it into the hands of a lawyer for safe keeping.  You will not forget that you are indebted to me for it?”

“No, Mr. Raynor.  I will take care you lose nothing by your revelation.”

The next morning Phil returned to New York.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

At the Palmer house.

It may be readily supposed that Phil’s New York friends listened with the greatest attention to his account of what he had learned in his visit to Planktown.

“Your step-mother is certainly an unscrupulous woman,” said Mr. Carter.  “Doubtless she has left your old town in order to escape accountability to you for your stolen inheritance.  What puzzles me however, is her leaving behind such tell-tale evidence.  It is a remarkable oversight.  Do you think she is aware of the existence of the will?”

“I think she must be, though I hope not,” answered Phil.  “I should like to think that she had not conspired to keep back my share of father’s estate.”

“At any rate, the first thing to do is evidently to find her out, and confront her with the evidence of her crime—­that is, supposing her to be really culpable.”

“Then you approve of my going to Chicago?” said Phil.

“Most emphatically.  Nay, more—­I will go with you.”

“Will you indeed, sir?” said Phil joyfully.  “You are very kind.  I shrank from going alone, being a boy ignorant of business.”