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of his revenge.

โ€œYou won't gain anything by your impudence,โ€ he said loftily. โ€œI might have got you a place, out of pity to your mother, if you had behaved differently. I need a boy to do odd jobs about the house, and I might have offered the place to you.โ€

โ€œThank you for your kind intentions,โ€ said Frank, โ€œbut I fear the care of this farm will prevent my accepting your tempting offer.โ€

โ€œThe care of the farm!โ€ repeated the squire angrily. โ€œDo you think I will delegate it to you?โ€

โ€œI don't see what you have to do about it,โ€ said Frank.

โ€œThen you'll find out,โ€ roared the squire. โ€œI shall take immediate possession, and require you to leave at once.โ€

โ€œThen I suppose we had better pay the mortgage, mother,โ€ said Frank.

โ€œPay the mortgage! You can't do it,โ€ said the squire exultingly.

โ€œHave you the document with you?โ€ inquired Mrs. Frost.

โ€œYes, madam.โ€

โ€œName the amount due on it.โ€

โ€œWith interest eight hundred and twenty-four dollars.โ€

โ€œFrank, call in Mr. Morton as a witness.โ€

Mr. Morton entered.

โ€œNow, Frank, you may count out the money.โ€

โ€œWhat!โ€ stammered the squire, in dismay, โ€œcan you pay it.โ€

โ€œWe can.โ€

โ€œWhy didn't you tell me so in the first place?โ€ demanded Squire Haynes, his wrath excited by his bitter disappointment.

โ€œI wished to ascertain whether your course was dictated by necessity or a desire to annoy and injure us. I can have no further doubt about it.โ€

There was no help for it. Squire Haynes was compelled to release his hold upon the Frost Farm, and pocket his money. He had never been so sorry to receive money before.

This business over, he was about to beat a hurried retreat, when he was suddenly arrested by a question from Henry Morton.

โ€œCan you spare me a few minutes, Squire Haynes?โ€

โ€œI am in haste, sir.โ€

โ€œMy business is important, and has already been too long delayed.โ€

โ€œToo long delayed?โ€

โ€œYes, it has waited twelve years.โ€

โ€œI don't understand you, sir,โ€ said the squire.

โ€œPerhaps I can assist you. You know me as Henry Morton. That is not my real name.โ€

โ€œAn alias!โ€ sneered the squire in a significant tone.

โ€œYes, I had my reasons,โ€ returned the young man, unmoved.

โ€œI have no doubt of it.โ€

Henry Morton smiled, but did not otherwise notice the unpleasant imputation.

โ€œMy real name is Richard Waring.โ€

Squire Haynes started violently and scrutinized the young man closely through his spectacles. His vague suspicions were confirmed.

โ€œDo you wish to know my business with you?โ€

The squire muttered something inaudible.

โ€œI demand the restitution of the large sum of money entrusted to you by my father, just before his departure to the West Indiesโ€”a sum of which you have been the wrongful possessor for twelve years.โ€

โ€œDo you mean to insult me?โ€ exclaimed the squire, bold in the assurance that the sole evidence of his fraud was undiscovered.

โ€œUnless you comply with my demand I shall proceed against you legally, and you are enough of a lawyer to understand the punishment meted out to that description of felony.โ€

โ€œPooh, pooh! Your threats won't avail you,โ€ said the squire contemptuously. โ€œYour plan is a very clumsy one. Let me suggest to you, young man, that threats for the purpose of extorting money are actionable.โ€

โ€œDo you doubt my identity?โ€

โ€œYou may very probably be the person you claim to be, but that won't save you.โ€

โ€œVery well. You have conceded one point.โ€

He walked quietly to the door of the adjoining room, opened it, and in a distinct voice called โ€œJames Travers.โ€

At the sound of this name Squire Haynes sank into a chair, ashy pale.

A man, not over forty, but with seamed face, hair nearly white, and a form evidently broken with ill health, slowly entered.

Squire Haynes beheld him with dismay.

โ€œYou see before you, Squire Haynes, a man whose silence has been your safeguard for the last twelve years. His lips are now unsealed. James Travers, tell us what you know of the trust reposed in this man by my father.โ€

โ€œNo, no,โ€ said the squire hurriedly. โ€œItโ€”it is enough. I will make restitution.โ€

โ€œYou have done wisely,โ€ said Richard Waring. (We must give him his true name.) โ€œWhen will you be ready to meet me upon this business?โ€

โ€œTo-morrow,โ€ muttered the squire.

He left the house with the air of one who has been crushed by a sudden blow.

The pride of the haughty had been laid low, and retribution, long deferred, had come at last.

Numerous and hearty were the congratulations which Mr. Mortonโ€”I mean Mr. Waringโ€”received upon his new accession of property.

โ€œI do not care so much for that,โ€ he said, โ€œbut my father's word has been vindicated. My mind is now at peace.โ€

There was more than one happy heart at the farm that night. Mr. Waring had accomplished the great object of his life; and as for Frank and his mother, they felt that the black cloud which had menaced their happiness had been removed, and henceforth there seemed prosperous days in store. To cap the climax of their happiness, the afternoon mail brought a letter from Mr. Frost, in which he imparted the intelligence that he had been promoted to a second lieutenancy.

โ€œMother,โ€ said Frank, โ€œyou must be very dignified now, You are an officer's wife.โ€





CHAPTER XXXIII. CONCLUSION

The restitution which Squire Haynes was compelled to make stripped him of more than half his property. His mortification and chagrin was so great that he determined to remove from Rossville. He gave no intimation where he was going, but it

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