“I haven’t got time,” said Morrison.  “Just attend to them, like a good fellow, and I’ll give you a dollar for your trouble.”

“How much have you got?”

“Six hundred—­a five hundred and a one.”

“Are they yours?”

“Yes; I’ve had ’em two years, but now I’ve got to raise money.”

“What do you want for them?”

“Regular price, whatever it is.”

“When will you call for the money?”

“Meet me at Fifth Avenue Hotel with it tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”

“I shall have to meet you earlier—­say half-past eight.”

“All right.  Here’s the bonds.”

Grant put the envelope into his pocket, and hurried to the Exchange.

When he returned to the office he carried the bonds to Willis Ford.

“Mr. Ford,” he said, “an acquaintance of mine handed them to me to be sold.”

“Some one you know?” queried Ford.

“I know him slightly.”

“Well, I suppose it’s all right.  I’ll make out a check to your order, and you can collect the money at the bank.”

Grant interposed no objection, and put the check in his pocket.

“The boy’s fallen into the trap,” said Willis to himself, exultantly, as he proceeded to enter the transaction on the books.

CHAPTER XVI

GRANT FALLS UNDER SUSPICION

In furtherance of his scheme to throw suspicion upon Grant, Willis Ford decided to make another call upon his stepmother the succeeding evening.  It occurred to him that she might possibly connect his visit of the evening before with her loss, and he wished to forestall this.

“Is Mrs. Estabrook at home?” he asked of the servant.

“Yes, sir.”

When the housekeeper made her appearance he carefully scrutinized her face.  She was calm and placid, and it was clear that she had not discovered the abstraction of the bonds.

“I dare say you are surprised to see me so soon again,” he commenced.

“I am always glad to see you, Willis,” she said.  “Come upstairs.”

“What a pleasant room you have, mother!”

“Yes, I am very comfortable.  Have you had any return of your sickness?” she asked, anxiously.

“No, I have been perfectly well.  By the way, mother, I have a special object in calling.”

“What is it, Willis?”

“I want to speak to you about those bonds of yours.  If you will only sell them out, and invest in Erie, I am sure you will make in six months a sum equal to several years interest.”

“That may be, Willis, but I am very timid about taking a risk.  Those bonds represent all the property I have.”

Willis Ford’s conscience pricked him a little, when he heard her speaking thus of the property he had so heartlessly stolen; but he did not show it in his manner.

“What is the date of your bonds, mother?” he asked.