no sooner had john wade parted from our herothan he saw approaching him a dark, sinister-lookingman, whom he had known years before.

``good-morning, mr. wade,'' said the newcomer.

``good-morning, mr. graves. are you busy justnow?''

``no, sir; i am out of employment. i have beenunfortunate.''

``then i will give you a job. do you see thatboy?'' said john wade, rapidly.

``yes, i see him.''

``i want you to follow him. find out where helives, and let me know this evening. do you understand?''

``i understand. you may rely upon me, sir,''

answered nathan graves; and quickening his pace, hesoon came within a hundred feet of our hero.

after fulfilling his errand, frank walked downtownagain, but did not succeed in obtaining anyfurther employment. wherever he went, he wasfollowed by graves. unconsciously, he exhaustedthe patience of that gentleman, who got heartily tiredof his tramp about the streets. but the longest daywill come to an end, and at last he had the satisfactionof tracking frank to his humble lodging. then,and not till then, he felt justified in leaving him.

nathan graves sought the residence of john wade.

he rang the bell as the clock struck eight.

``well, what success?'' asked wade, when they met.

``i have tracked the boy. what more can i dofor you?'' asked graves.

``i want to get him away from the city. the factis--i may as well tell you--my uncle has taken agreat fancy to the boy, and might be induced toadopt him, and cut me off from my rightful inheritance.

the boy is an artful young rascal, and hasbeen doing all he could to get into the good gracesof my uncle, who is old and weak-minded.''

it was nine o'clock when nathan graves left thehouse, john wade himself accompanying him to thedoor.

``how soon do you think you can carry out myinstructions?'' asked wade.

``to-morrow, if possible.''

``the sooner the better.''

``it is lucky i fell in with him,'' said nathangraves to himself, with satisfaction, as he slowlywalked down fifth avenue. ``it's a queer business,but that's none of my business. the main thingfor me to consider is that it brings money to mypurse, and of that i have need enough.''

graves left the house richer by a hundred dollarsthan he entered it.

it was eleven o'clock on the forenoon of the nextday when frank walked up canal street towardbroadway. he had been down to the wharves sinceearly in the morning, seeking for employment. hehad offered his services to many, but as yet had beenunable to secure a job.

as he was walking along a man addressed him:

``will you be kind enough to direct me to broadway?''

it was nathan graves, with whom frank was destinedto have some unpleasant experiences.

``straight ahead,'' answered frank. ``i am goingthere, and will show you, if you like.''

``thank you, i wish you would. i live only fifteenor twenty miles distant,'' said graves, ``but i don'toften come to the city, and am not much acquainted.

i keep a dry-goods store, but my partner generallycomes here to buy goods. by the way, perhaps youcan help me about the errand that calls me here today.''

``i will, sir, if i can,'' said frank, politely.

``my youngest clerk has just left me, and i wantto find a successor--a boy about your age, say. doyou know any one who would like such a position?''

``i am out of employment myself just now. doyou think i will suit?''

``i think you will,'' said mr. graves.

``you won't object to go into the country?''

``no, sir.''

``i will give you five dollars a week and your boardfor the present. if you suit me, your pay will beraised at the end of six months. will that besatisfactory?'' asked his companion.

``quite so, sir. when do you wish me to come?''

``can you go out with me this afternoon?''

``yes, sir. i only want to go home and pack upmy trunk.''

``to save time, i will go with you, and we willstart as soon as possible.''

nathan graves accompanied frank to his room,where his scanty wardrobe was soon packed. ahack was called, and they were speedily on theirway to the cortland street ferry.

they crossed the ferry, and mr. graves purchasedtwo tickets to elizabeth. he bought a paper, andoccupied himself in reading. frank felt thatfortune had begun to shine upon him once more. byand by, he could send for grace, and get her boardednear him. as soon as his wages were raised, hedetermined to do this. while engaged in these pleasantspeculations, they reached the station.

``we get out here,'' said mr. graves.

``is your store in this place?'' asked frank.

``no; it is in the next town.''

nathan graves looked about him for a conveyance.

he finally drove a bargain with a man drivinga shabby-looking vehicle, and the two took theirseats.

they were driven about six miles through a flat,unpicturesque country, when they reached a branchroad leading away from the main one.

it was a narrow road, and apparently not muchfrequented. frank could see no houses on eitherside``is your store on this road?'' he asked.

``oh, no; but i am not going to the store yet. wewill go to my house, and leave your trunk.''

at length the wagon stopped, by graves' orders,in front of a gate hanging loosely by one hinge.

``we'll get out here,'' said graves.

frank looked with some curiosity, and somedisappointment, at his future home. it was a square,unpainted house, discolored by time, and looked farfrom attractive. there were no outward signs ofoccupation, and everything about it appeared to havefallen into decay. not far off was a barn, lookingeven more dilapidated than the house.

at the front door, instead of knocking--there wasno bell--graves drew a rusty key from his pocketand inserted it in the lock. they found themselvesin a small entry, uncarpeted and dingy.

``we'll go upstairs,'' said graves.

arrived on the landing, he threw open a door,and ushered in our hero.

``this will be your room,'' he said.

frank looked around in dismay.

it was a large, square room, uncarpeted, andcontaining only a bed, two chairs and a washstand, allof the cheapest and rudest manufacture.

``i hope you will soon feel at home here,'' saidgraves. ``i'll go down and see if i can find somethingto eat.''

he went out, locking the door behind him``what does this mean?'' thought frank, with astrange sensation.