when john wade re-entered the library, frankwas reading, but mr. wharton stopped him.

``that will do, frank,'' he said. ``as i have notseen my nephew for a long time, i shall not requireyou to read any longer. you can go, if you like.''

frank bowed, and bidding the two good-evening,left the room.

``that is an excellent boy, john.'' said the oldgentleman, as the door closed upon our hero.

``how did you fall in with him?'' asked john. mr.

wharton told the story with which the reader isalready familiar.

``you don't know anything of his antecedents, isuppose?'' said john, carelessly.

``only what he told me. his father and motherare dead, and he is obliged to support himself andhis sister. did you notice anything familiar infrank's expression?'' asked mr. wharton.

``i don't know. i didn't observe him very closely.''

``whenever i look at frank, i think of george. isuppose that is why i have felt more closely drawnto the boy. i proposed to mrs. bradley that theboy should have a room here, but she did not favorit. i think she is prejudiced against him.''

``probably she is afraid he would be some trouble,''

replied john.

``if george's boy had lived he would be aboutfrank's age. it would have been a great comfort tome to superintend his education, and watch himgrow up. i could not have wished him to be moregentlemanly or promising than my young reader.''

``decidedly, that boy is in my way,'' said johnwade to himself. ``i must manage to get rid of him,and that speedily, or my infatuated uncle will beadopting him.''

``of what disease did george's boy die, john?''

asked mr. wharton.

``a sudden fever.''

``i wish i could have seen him before he died. buti returned only to find both son and grandson gone.

i had only the sad satisfaction of seeing his grave.''

``yes, he was buried in the family lot at greenwood,five days before you reached home.''

``when i see men of my own age, surrounded bychildren and grandchildren, it makes me almostenvious,'' said mr. wharton, sadly. ``i declare to you,john, since that boy has been with me, i have felthappier and more cheerful than for years.''

``that boy again!'' muttered john to himself. ``ibegin to hate the young cub, but i mustn't show it.

my first work will be to separate him from my uncle.

that will require consideration. i wonder whetherthe boy knows that he is not fowler's son? i mustfind out. if he does, and should happen to mentionit in my uncle's presence, it might awaken suspicionsin his mind. i must interview the boy, andfind out what i can. to enlist his confidence, imust assume a friendly manner.''

in furtherance of this determination, john wadegreeted our hero very cordially the next evening,when they met, a little to frank's surprise.

when the reading terminated, john wade said,carelessly:

``i believe, uncle, i will go out for a walk. i thinki shall be better for it. ln what direction are yougoing, frank?''

``down sixth avenue, sir.''

``very good; i will walk along with you.''

frank and his companion walked toward sixthavenue.

``my uncle tells me you have a sister to support,''

said wade, opening the conversation.

``yes, sir.''

``does your sister resemble you?'' asked johnwade.

``no, sir! but that is not surprising, for----''

``why is it not surprising?''

frank hesitated.

``you were about to assign some reason.''

``it is a secret,'' said our hero, slowly; ``that is,has been a secret, but i don't know why i shouldconceal it. grace is not my sister. she is mrs.

fowler's daughter, but i am not her son. i will tell youthe story.''

that story frank told as briefly as possible. johnwade listened to it with secret alarm.

``it is a strange story,'' he said. ``do you not feela strong desire to learn your true parentage?''

``yes, sir. i don't know, but i feel as if i shouldsome day meet the man who gave me into mrs. fowler'scharge.''

``you have met him, but it is lucky you don't suspectit,'' thought john wade.

``i am glad you told me this story,'' said he, aloud.

``it is quite romantic. i may be able to help you inyour search. but let me advise you to tell no oneelse at present. no doubt there are parties interestedin keeping the secret of your birth from you.

you must move cautiously, and your chance of solvingthe mystery will be improved.''

``thank you, sir. i will follow your advice.''

``i was mistaken in him,'' thought frank. ``idisliked him at first, but he seems inclined to be myfriend.''

when frank reached his lodging he found jasperwaiting up for him. he looked thoughtful, so muchso that frank noticed it.

``you look as if you had something on your mind,'' jasper.

``you have guessed right. i have read that letter.''

he drew from his pocket a letter, which franktook from his hands.

``it is from an uncle of mine in ohio, who isproprietor of a weekly newspaper. he is getting old,and finds the work too much for him. he offers mea thousand dollars a year if i will come out and relieve him.''

``that's a good offer, jasper. i suppose you willaccept it?''

``it is for my interest to do so. probably my unclewill, after a while, surrender the whole establishment to me.''

``i shall be sorry to part with you, jasper. it willseem very lonely, but i think you ought to go. itis a good chance, and if you refuse it you may notget such another.''

``my uncle wants me to come on at once. i thinki will start monday.''

jasper saw no reason to change his determination,and on monday morning he started on his journey toohio.

thus, at a critical moment in his fortunes, whentwo persons were planning to injure him, he lost thepresence and help of a valued friend.