TABLE of CONTENTS

CHAPTER I—THE BOY AND THE YOUNG SCULPTOR.

CHAPTER II—“IT NEVER RAINS, BUT IT POURS.”

CHAPTER III—MANLY CAN NOT FIND HIS FATHER.

CHAPTER IV—A TELEGRAM.

CHAPTER V—ANOTHER TELEGRAM, BUT MORE STARTLING THAN THE FIRST.

CHAPTER VI—THE SITUATION AT GREENWICH.

CHAPTER VII—THE SHUTDOWN.

CHAPTER VIII—‘‘LIKE HIS FATHER.”

CHAPTER IX—SHERIFF WHITCOMB'S TRIUMPH.

CHAPTER X—MR. WHITCOMB MAKES AN OFFER.

CHAPTER XI—THE MESSAGE EROM GREENWICH.

CHAPTER XII—FOR THE SAKE OF A HORSE.

CHAPTER XIII—A BOLD REQUEST.

CHAPTER XIV—MR. STEELE’S REPLY.

CHAPTER XV—A CRISIS IN AFFAIRS.

CHAPTER XVI—MANLY FINDS HIMSELF WITH MILLIONAIRES.

CHAPTER XVII—STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF MANLY’S FATHER.

CHAPTER XVIII—THE PURSUIT IN THE DARK.

CHAPTER XIX—"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”

CHAPTER XX—SETTLING UP.

CHAPTER XXI—THE HAWK SHOWS ITS CLAWS.

CHAPTER XXII—WHITCOMB HAS AN INNING.

CHAPTER XXIII—“A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK.”

CHAPTER XXIV—MANLY’S INDEPENDENCE — CURLY FINDS HIMSELF IN A HARD PLACE.

CHAPTER XXV—CURLY'S MASTERPIECE.

CHAPTER XXVI—A NOTE FOR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

CHAPTER XXVII—THE LAST STRAW.

CHAPTER XXVIII—MANLY VISITS ROLIN STEELE.

CHAPTER XXIX—MANLY SEES LEONARD GRASP.

CHAPTER XXX—“YOU HAVE CONQUERED!”

CHAPTER XXXI—“ EXCITEMENT ENOUGH FOR A DOZEN AUCTIONS! ”

CHAPTER XXXII—CLEARING UP

CHAPTER XXXII—IN WHICH THE MEANS ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE ENDS.

LIST of ILLUSTRATIONS

- “You shall not give that poor horse another blow”

- A third person sprang from the shadows of the next furnace and caught the end of the bar.

- Manly reached the fallen tree just as his father stepped upon its slippery trunk.

- With a low cry of terror Crush Curlew retreated.

CHAPTER I.

THE BOY AND THE YOUNG SCULPTOR.

“Don’t! You musn’t do that! Oh, Joe Bleak! how you do—stop! stop!”

The speaker was a pale-faced, slender boy of sixteen, clad in a ragged shirt and trousers, the latter garment reaching but a little below his knees, while the sleeves of the former had been cut off at the elbows, a thick coating of grime and coal dust making up in its way for whatever of clothing he may seemed to have lacked. While there was evidence about him showing he belonged to the very poorest of the working class, the contour of his pinched features, almost girlish in their outlines, the clear light of his brown eyes and the expression of his lips told that he had a mind above the dreary routine of his daily tasks.

His environments were wild and weird in the extreme. Over his head hung the soot-blackened, tent-like roofs of Orcroft’s iron mills, covering an acre or more of ground, if layers of iron siftings, cinders, rocks and refuse metals can be called by that name. Behind him, on his right, and in the distance to his left and front, the fiery mouths of the iron furnaces glowered upon the night scene like so many monsters chained in their dens.

To make the scene more startling to him unused to such sights, fire leaped from pits in spiral columns and red-hot blades of every conceivable shape, from the filtering sands in liquid metal flames, from the wide-mouthed caldrons of boiling ore in all colors and tints, while here and there, looking in their scanty garbs and liberal coatings of black dust, grease and grime, like so many beings from another world, flitted to and fro under the shifting lights the men who tended these works. These workmen were rough and unlettered, generally faithful in the discharge of their narrow round of duty, but with no ambition above the low wages they obtained.

Though the youthful speaker had uttered his remonstrance in a voice pitched at a high key, the incessant clangor of heavy hammers and the deep grinding of the ponderous machinery in the distance, with the hissing of angry flames, deep roaring of the fires in the pits and the unearthly, guttural noise of the molten metal bubbling and crackling in the huge caldrons nearby, drowned his words before they could reach the ears of his fellow workmen, excepting the stout, beetle-browed man who stood in front of him.

“Bah! whut bizness hev ye to fritter yer time in putterin’ with sich as thet?” pointing at the same time to a most unexpected object for that place.

This was nothing less than a graven image carved from a block of the waste ore which comes after the pig metal is run. The figure was that of a youth a couple of years older than him whom this unappreciative workman was threatening, and with a larger frame and features possessing a firmness and indication of command his lacked. The refuse ore from which it had been cut was of a porous nature, inclined to be waxy and of such a very delicate pink shade that the statue presented a marvelous resemblance to a human being in the flesh tints. A critic might have condemned certain of the lines as harsh and out of harmonv, but it was, on the whole, a piece of carving an older and more experienced artist could have claimed with pride.

“Why don’t yer speak out?” demanded the man, advancing a step. “Yer don’t say yer didn’t do yit?”

“No, Joe,” faltered the trembling boy, “but I did it out of work hours—every bit.”

“I know better, an’ who’s a bigger right to say yit, seein’ I’m boss o’ these furnaces? ’Taint th’ fust time ye hev been up to sich waste o’ time or I’d let yer erlone. Es ’tis I’m goin’ to bust tli ’ thing, an ’ I ’ll crack yer head if yer dare to yip.’

The boy sculptor knew the other was in temporary charge of the furnaces, and he knew also that he was one to carry out his threat at any consequences, but the image was very dear to him, so, placing himself in front of it, he exclaimed:

“Please don’t touch it, Joe. Don’t you see it’s the master’s boy, the little boss who—”

“I don’t keer ef it’s th’ boy o’ the king, I’ll crack its head! But I’ll crack yours first, ef yer don’t stand erway.”

Bleak had raised a long, heavy iron rod that he carried to stir the fires when necessary, and a deadly expression came into his bleared eyes.

“I’ll l’arn ye how to putter erway yer master’s time,” gritted Bleak, his grasp closing more firmly upon the iron rod.

Realizing his danger, the boy uttered a low cry; at the same moment a third person sprang from the shadows of the next furnace and caught the end of the bar opposite to that in the hands of Bleak with a hold that defied the strength of the would-be assailant.

Finding himself thus unexpectedly thwarted, Bleak turned around as quickly as his clumsy gait would allow, an angry snarl leaving his grimy lips.

He found himself face to face with a youth of eighteen, whom it did not require a second glance to show was the original of the graven image which had caused the trouble. He was a manly-looking youth, tall and stoutly built for his age, with regular, clearly cut features and black eyes, which met the iron puddler’s gaze without any trace of fear. He was dressed better than the others, though he bore a coating of ash and cinders that told he had been at work as well as they.

”Te’ master’s b’y!” muttered Bleak. Then he exclaimed in a louder voice:

“Whut air ye doin’ hyur, youngster?”

“I might with better reason ask that of you, Joe, judging by your actions. Don’t harm that boy. ’ ’

The words were spoken in a calm tone, and, though not in as high a key as the others had used, more plainly heard.

“How long has yit been sence ye hev been runnin’ th’ mills?” demanded Bleak, doggedly, “I reckon I’m boss till Willey comes back, which ’tain’t likely ’ll be ter night.”

“Boss or no boss, you have no right to harm that boy, and mind you, sir, that you do not.” The yellow flames from the furnace showed Bleak’s features in the contortions of rage, but somehow he suppressed the fierce words that he wanted to utter, exclaiming in a tone that scarcely reached his companions:

“Mebbe ye hev er right to walk over me rough shod, but I reckon there’ll be a countin’ fer yit. I ain’t been erway chin’ this b’y fer nothin’,” raising his voice, “an’ lie’s puttered erway all th’ time he’s goin’ to on sich traps,” pointing to the image. “Ye may be sorry fer yer imp’dence w’en I’ve tol’ Grasp.”

Not caring to have any argument with the iron puddler, Manly allowed him to leave the place without answering his remark. He had seen the graven image foi the first time, and he stood for what seemed a long while to the young sculptor looking at it without speaking.

“Did you do that!” he finally asked, turning to his trembling companion.

“Yes, sir,” faltered the boy, mistaking the look upon his countenance for that of displeasure. “I hope I haven’t done anything very wrong. I hev seen ye menny times when ye didn’t know' it, an’ I—”

“It isn’t that,” broke in the older youth, “ though I little expected to find myself so honored. I must say the work is well done, though you have flattered me very much. ’ ’

Perhaps the other did not understand fully what had been said, or it may have been from the effect of the first kind words he had ever heard addressed to him that the young sculptor did not offer to reply.

“ How did you make that? ’ ’

“Chipped it out of korl, sir, with my knife,” displaying an old, broken-bladed affair which did not look as though it would cut anything. “I hope ye ain’t mad with me. I meant no ’fense, hones’.”

“Offense! Why should I be angry with you? Is this your first work of the kind?”

“Oh, no, sir,” his countenance brightening. “I hev chipped out lots and lots, but I hev never kept ’em as long as I hev this, ’cos th’ boss don’t like to hev me. But I do it all out of work hours. I took a piece to the house once, but dad walloped me so fer doin’ it I didn’t darst try thet ag’in. It’s jess good times for me to make ’em.”

“What is your name?”

“Curly, sir.”

“A singular name. I think you are Crush Curlew’s boy? At least I have seen you go there.”

“Yes, sir. I don’t s’pec’ Curl’s my real name. They give me it on ’count my hair; it’s curly you see.”

Manly Sterling had noticed that he possessed the finest head of silken brown hair, hanging in waving masses about his shoulders, that he had ever seen. But he was not thinking so much of that then as he was of the miserable abode in which this boy lived with his uncouth parents. He knew Crush Curlew as one of the very lowest of the hands working in the mills, a tall, stoop-shouldered man, whose sole ambition in carrying him through the week’s hard work was the anticipated debauch at its close. He had been told that Mrs. Curlew, who worked in the little factory just above the iron mills, was little, if any, better than he. But this boy, claiming them as his parents, was evidently a genius.

“I judge I need not tell you who I am.”

“Ye air Manly Sterlin’, the master’s boy, thet everybody likes. I wish— ”

The appearance of a messenger for his companion caused Curly to stop in the midst of his speech.

When Manly had spoken to the newcomer briefly, he said to the boy sculptor:

“I want you to keep that statue for me, please. I will be after it before I go home, and will pay you for it. ”

As if unable to comprehend the kindly notice which had been thus unexpectedly bestowed upon him, Curly watched the departure of his new-found friend in silence, until he was suddenly brought back to a realization of his situation by the resounding thwack on the side of his head, which sent him headlong upon a pile of coal-ash and cinders.

“Stand there er-gorpin’, will yer?” muttered Bleak. “I’ll arn ye Willey ain’t boss here ternight.”

CHAPTER II.

“IT NEVER RAINS, BUT IT POURS.”

The furnace tended by him whom we must know as Curly, for the want of a better name, was near the bounds of one side of the works, so Manly Sterling was obliged to pass nearly the width of the grounds before his guide stopped.

“There’s Ferguson,” said the latter, simply.

They were now in the main workshop, and the young ironworker knew there had been some difficulty in performing an important piece of work. Seeing the man called Ferguson, he beckoned to him, asking:

“Where’s Clinch?”

“Out this afternoon, with a broken back or some sich complaint.”

“Does Mr. Grasp know of this?”

“Grasp knows nothing. He hasn’t been near to-night. This bar of iron is bothering us like —well, no matter what, so long as we can’t fix it ’cording to what it should be. ’ ’

He pointed' as he spoke to a long bar, or rather two bars, of iron, hung just above the forge in temporary slings. The fire in the forge had been allowed to die down somewhat, though it was brilliant enough to cast its sharp sword flashes across the murky walls and cut into vivid, fantastic shapes the black clouds that lowered from the low roof. It was sufficiently light about the forge to carry on the work, and for the young ironworker to make a hasty examination of the task undertaken by the men.

“You missed in your flux, Mr. Ferguson, and you did not draw out the centers as you should. Start up the forge fires, Jackman; lend your hands here, boys, and we will soon bring these bars together so they can’t find the seam. Raise that end sling a, bit, Moulton; there, that will do. Now be ready at the word to lift them into position.”

While the boy was giving off his orders the forgeman had sprung to his work with alacrity, so that the flames were crackling and leaping merrily from the low, wide arch, soon beginning to show their effect upon the ends of the long shafts of iron that had been placed so as to receive the most heat possible.

Unmindful of the blades of flames shooting about his head, or the darting tongues of fire that leaped spitefully out first one way and then another, the young ironworker kept a close watch over the bars, noticing with the practical eye of one who understood that just such a pitch of temperature must be reached, and no other, until at last he cried:

“ Catch hold there, Ferguson, Morgan, Fritz; lower—back—forward — down—stand, aside!” and as the ponderous bars fell into position on the huge anvil with a resounding force, he seized one of the heavy hammers near at hand to begin to smite the parts with all the power he could command.

In a moment a perfect cloud of fiery stars flew about his head, falling in showers upon the onlookers or soaring aloft into the dark recesses over their heads, until the whole building looked like an amphitheater of falling meteors.

All the time the sounding blows of the boy rang out on the scene, while his clear voice was heard even above them, as he gave out his orders to the workmen, until, his task done, he stepped back to wipe the perspiration from his heated brow with the back of his hand.

“I never see such a feller as you are,” Ferguson, even with the thought of his failure in his mind, could not help saying. “You have welded that like the— ”

The blunt ironworker was inclined to be profane in his speech, but for once he was saved the utterance of the improper word by the sound of another voice breaking in suddenly above his and the din of the noisy scene, and which commanded:

“Come out here, young man! We want to see you on important business.”

Manly Sterling understood that the request was directed to him, and giving a hasty direction to the men in regard to polishing off, the welded bar of iron, he went out of the mills to meet the unknown spokesman.

He was surprised to find that a drizzling rain had set in since sunset, and coining out of the dazzling glare of the furnace fires it was some moments before he could distinguish the forms of two men seated in the midst of the rubber blankets of a top carriage.

“Good evening, sirs,” he said.

“We want to see Messrs. Sterling & Grasp,” said one of the men. “This,” indicating his companion, “is Mr. Luther Corning, and I am Sheriff Whitcomb. ”

“Mr. Grasp is in the office, I suppose, Mr. Whitcomb, as it is his time to be here at the mills. Father has gone home.”

“We will see this Grasp first, then. Will you hitch your horse and come in with me, Corning?’

“If there is a good chance to fasten the animal so he can’t get away. He’s a bit afraid of all this noise and confusion. I should think it would drive a man crazy to work in such a place. ’ ’

Leaving the speaker to fasten his horse as he wished, Manly escorted the sheriff into the office of the Orecroft iron mills, which was scarcely less dingy in appearance than the works themselves. The little ten by twelve room presented an uncommonly topsy-turvy appearance at this time, the big account books having been tossed in a heap upon the floor along with a miscellaneous collection of articles which had accumulated about the place. Mr. Grasp was certainly not in, as the office was deserted.

“He’s about the mill somewhere,” said Manly, who saw nothing singular in the absence of the junior member of the firm. “If you will kindly wait I will find him. ”

“Think I will go with you,” declared the sheriff, acting and speaking in a manner the boy ironworker could not understand. “Here, Corning, I will leave you in charge of this place, ” continued the officer as he started after Manly.

Passing swiftly from one section of the mills to another, with Sheriff Whitcomb close upon his heels, listening intently to every reply which was made to his inquiries, Manly failed to get any trace of ‘the missing Mr. Grasp. No one had seen him since four o’clock in the afternoon, and it was then past eight.

“Well, young man,” said the Sheriff at last,*

“it is evidently no use for us to fool away any more time looking for Mr. Grasp, when your father will do just as well, in fact, better.”

“What is your business, Mr. Whitcomb?” asked Manly. “It is possible I can do as well as he. I suppose he has gone to bed before this time, as he has to get into the mills at two o ’clock in the morning now, and I do not like to disturb him.”

“It is very important we should see him, young man. Mr. Corning holds a note against the firm for a thousand dollars and interest, and the note is several days overdue. They have not minded his notices, and now he is naturally anxious to know what they are going to do about settling. Especially is this the situation, as ugly reports have been circulated this afternoon concerning their financial affairs. ”

“I was not aware, sir, there was anything wrong. If they have had any money of Mr. Corning, which I did not know, they will look after the matter to-morrow.”

“Tut—tut! that isn’t business at all. We are here for a settlement to-night or—”

“I am looking for Mr. Henry Sterling!” exclaimed the voice of a newcomer suddenly breaking upon the little group. “

“Hilloa, Whitcomb,” recognizing the sheriff. “I was down to your place, but could not find you. They said you were up this way somewhere. How do you find things here? ”

“We have been looking for Mr. Grasp without finding him,” said Manly, beginning to feel there was something wrong about it all. “I expect father is at the house, and I am quite sure Mr. Grasp will come in a few minutes. I do not understand where he is, as the mills are left in his charge at this time. ’ ’

“ I am in a hurry and can not wait, ” said the last comer. “I have been sent up here by Earning, Dewing & Dunn, who hold notes against the firm amounting to over two.thousand dollars, and this was the last day of grace. They don’t want to make any trouble if it can be helped, but the matter must be fixed up immediately. ” The sheriff and his client exchanged significant glances, but before any reply could be made a third arrival appeared on the scene, whom all quickly recognized as the cashier of the leading bank in Orecroft.

“ Is Mr. Sterling in? ” he asked.

“No, sir, but I think he is at his house,” replied Manly.

“I wish to notify the firm that their note drawn in favor of Cutter, Welch & Co. for eight hundred dollars had been protested. I wish also, to ask them to come to the bank at nine o’clock to-morrow and fix up their accounts with us. They have overdrawn this day one thousand five hundred dollars. I saw Grasp at two o’clock and he promised to look after it, but he has not been near. I do not understand what they mean by such actions, as they have always been square and prompt in their dealings.”

The rumbling of the machinery and the dull roar of the fires in the distant furnaces broke the silence, while the men looked one upon another, and Manly Sterling, with an undefined dread tugging at his heart, looked silently upon them all.

CHAPTER III.

MANLY CAN NOT FIND HIS FATHER.

“Whew!” exclaimed Sheriff Whitcomb when the silence had grown embarrassing, “affairs take on a serious shape. ”

‘‘ Mercy me! ” cried Mr. Corning, who was a very nervous person, “shall I lose my money? It will ruin me if I do. A thousand dollars of hard-earned money gone at one fell swoop! Oh, the dishonesty of men! I had thought Henry Sterling the perfection of honesty.”

“None of you will lose a dollar by father,” spoke up Manly, recovering his self-possession. “I do not understand all this, but no doubt father will make it plain. If you will kindly wait here I will ask him to come at once,” starting to leave the office as he finished speaking.

“I think I will go with yon,” declared the officer for the second time since the search had begun, seeming determined that the young ironworker should not get out of his sight.

The rain was still falling with a steady drizzle, the variegated lights from the forge and furnace fires making it look like a feathery veil of many hues, transparent with long trails of gold, bronze and silver, or touched with the deeper tints of red, violet and pink, while above these the furnaces sent sword flames high into the Cimmerian space, the glittering blades quivering till some new outburst should send a cloud of starry sparks against the shifting scene, which softened by the vieing colors appeared not unlike a Milky Way.

But these sights were lost to Manly Sterling at this time. He did not even notice that it was raining, as he hastened along the cinder-covered road leading past his home.

Sheriff Whitcomb did not offer to speak, realizing perhaps something of his companion’s feelings and respecting them.

A short distance below the mills the road led over a wooden bridge spanning the stream whose yellow-stained waters afforded the power to carry the ponderous machinery, and a few hundred rods beyond this place they came to a plain two-storied house, which stood slightly removed from the narrow street. Though there was nothing pretentious about the dwelling, it was far better than those around it.

A light shone at a couple of the windows, while through the thin shade of one could be distinguished the outlines of a woman’s figure.

This Manly knew was his mother, and, not wishing to alarm her by the presence of a stranger, lie quickened his steps, so as to call her to the door before the sheriff should come into sight. She answered his summons promptly, showing she had been expecting some one. “Father is wanted over to the mills, mother.” “Is that you, Manty? Why didn’t you come in? Your father is not in the house. He has not been home to his supper yet, and it is getting cold. I was getting worried about him, and was wishing I had some one to send after him. Now, you do not know where he is? ”

“He must be in his private workshop. I did not think of looking there, as I felt sure he had come home. Oh, well, do not worry. As soon as he has attended to a little business matter, I will ' see that he comes home.”

“I wish you would, Manly, for, do you know,

I have felt a strange fear all day, just as if something dreadful was going to happen. I haven’t wanted to say so, but your father hasn’t seemed like himself of late. I do wish he would think less of that invention of his.”

“Have no fears, mother, I shall be home with him in a few minutes. He has overworked, that it all.”

Notwithstanding his apparent cheerfulness, Manly felt thankful that his mother had not seen the sheriff, who had considerately kept in the background, though listening to every word which had been spoken.

As Manly led the way back toward the mill, he said to the officer:

“It is strange I had not thought of looking for father in his workshop, hut as he has been in the habit of going directly home lately, as soon as his hours at the mills were over, I supposed he had done so to-night.”

“I understand,” said the sheriff, slowly. “Your mother said he has been acting rather peculiarly for a time. If I am not mistaken, business has been going hard.”

“What mother said is due to her imagination, and she is slightly nervous. Business has never been so good since I can remember, Mr. Whitcomb. ”

“It doesn’t look that way according to the amount of money they have been borrowing. ” “I don’t understand that, sir; but I have no doubt father will be able to give a satisfactory explanation. ”

“I hope so sincerely. Henry Sterling has always had the name of being a strictly honest man. I shouldn’t be fooling round as I am now if I hadn’t felt some regard for him. By the way, he may have been putting money into that invention of his. Such fascinations have proved the ruin of as good men as he. Come to think of it, that was what Grasp said.”

“I do not know anything abont what Mr. Grasp said, Mr. Whitcomb. We will soon have father’s story, which will make it all plain. Come down this way, sir. Father has what he calls his ‘private workshop’ at the lower end. It is strange I do not see a light.”

They had now passed behind the dark walls of the east end of the mills, where the glare of the furnaces did not penetrate, so they were obliged to advance more slowly.

Manly’s anxiety increased as he approached the door, and he began to feel that it was not going to prove as he had hoped.

“Father!” he shouted, giving the door a vigorous shaking, but his repeated cries failed to obtain any response.

“He isn’t there, Mr. Whitcomb. I do not understand where he can be.”

“Haven’t you any key to the door?”

“No, sir. Father would never intrust a key even to me. It was in there he experimented on his new process of welding. ”

“I should think he sadly lacked confidence in people. It won’t take but a moment to break in the door. Something may have happened to him in there alone.”

“I think he is somewhere else. If you will please wait here one minute I will look in one more place for him.”

Without waiting for the impatient sheriff to reply, Manly darted around the corner of the building into the darkness beyond. Then, not one minute, but five minutes, did the perplexed officer wait, when, in a fit of desperation he picked up a heavy bar of iron at his feet and was in the act of breaking the door as a man came rushing that way in a most excited manner.

Seeing the sheriff he stopped, exclaiming:

“ Oh, sir, the master’s boy has been killed! ”

“Do you mean young Sterling?” demanded Sheriff Whitcomb sharply.

“Yes, sir. His dead body lays just below. I see it and started for the office.”

CHAPTER IV.

A TELEGRAM.

The man was very much excited, and he shook in every part as he made his startling announcement to the sheriff, who was at a loss to understand him at first.

“Come this way,” requested the workman. “He lays right near the path winding around the end of the lower mill. I see his face as plain as I see yours.”

Mr. Whitcomb followed in silence, wondering what strange turn affairs would take next, and he was in the midst of his bewildering reflections when his guide stopped, saying:

“There ’tis, mister,” pointing to the shadowy outlines of a human figure lying by the pathside.

The head lay in a bar of light sent out from the furnaces, but the body was not so plainly seen.

At the same moment the man spoke a boyish figure sprang from the ground beside the prone form, and putting forth his hands in supplication the youth implored:

“Oh, sirs! please spare him.”

Sheriff "Whitcomb was too much surprised by the situation to reply at once, and while he hesitated some one came rushing to the spot, exclaiming:

“Did you get tired of waiting for me, Mr. Whitcomb? I could not find him. I do not understand—”

The speaker, who was none other than Manly Sterling, stopped in the midst of his speech at sight of the boy and the still figure upon the ground.

“Why, Curly, what has happened, you look so frightened? And what have you got that image out here for?”

“It was Bleak, sir! He struck me so hard I fell down and lay a long time. And when I come round he had carried it out here. He swears it shan’t stay in the mills, and he says he will kill me if I cut another. ”

It was now plain that the excited workman had seen the figure of the young ironworker engraved out of the korl by Curly, and mistaken it in the semi-darkness for that of the original. Sheriff Whitcomb could understand as much as that.

“Well, never mind Bleak, Curly. I will speak to father about him to-morrow, and I know he will see that you are not troubled any more by him. Callow,” addressing the workman, “get help if you need, but bring that figure round into the office. It is mine. Mr. Whitcomb, we can do no better than to go back to the office. Perhaps father has come there before this time. If he has not, all we can do is to wait for him.” The sheriff made no reply, but as they came in front of the private workshop of Mr. Sterling he said:

“It might be well for us to force an entrance here. Something-— ”

“Father would not like to have us break in that door — ”

“That is very good reason why I should force an entrance. Though you will not acknowledge it, I tell you there is something wrong about all this. Why, your own actions show it.”

While speaking the officer picked up the bar of iron he had had in his hands before, and, with all the power he could muster, he began to deal the door terrific blows. Following up this fusillade, he soon had the satisfaction of sending the stout structure from its hinges with a loud crash.

“I have some matches,” he said, “and it won’t take us long to find out whether he is here or not.”

Then, byj the aid of one after another of the little, flickering lights they hastily looked over the secret workshop of the missing man, not a trace of whom was to be found. The place was littered here and there with such tools and miscellaneous pieces of iron and wood as might be expected in such an apartment. There was an anvil on one side and a forge just beyond, but the fire was out in the latter, while nowhere was there any indication that the room had been recently occupied.

“He’s not here, that’s certain,” admitted the sheriff, finally, as if reluctant to give up the search. “Well, it don’t really matter after all. I have only to go ahead, as I ought to have done in the first place, and attach the mills to secure Mr. Corning. ”

“Perhaps one of them has returned to the office by this time,” said Manly, hoping for the best, as they went back to the place.

But neither Mr. Grasp nor his father had appeared at the office, the sheriff showing no surprise.

“I did not look for them here,” he said. “I begin to understand that this course was all mapped out and their flight intended beforehand. But I shall secure my clients by attaching everything here, and shall remain here the balance of the night, when to-morrow a duly authorized keeper will be placed in charge of the premises.”

Manly listened to this in a dazed sort of way, managing to say at last:

“Mr. Whitcomb, you cannot mean what you say. You will at least wait for father’s explanation. He will explain it all satisfactorily I am sure. ”

“There is an old saw which says, ‘Safe bind sure to find.’ I am afraid we would have to wait until the old mills crumbled to ruins before we should see him.”

“Mr. Whitcomb, you act and speak in a strange manner. You cannot mean that father has—has -- run—away? ”

“That is just what I mean. Why, your own conduct shows that you know there is something wrong. You haven’t made the first effort to find your father without being urged. Why should both of the firm keep out of sight if everything was square and above board? There can be but one answer: The Orecroft iron mills are hopelessly involved and their owners have fled in disgrace, too weak to meet the ruin they have inflicted upon themselves.”

These sweeping assertions took the young ironworker so much by surprise that he hesitated in his reply. His father had given him no hint that business was not moving along with its accustomed regularity. He had hot dreamed of any shrinkage in the output of the work, and he knew that less than a week before they had received an order for car rails which amounted to a large sum. Still there was something about the present situation which was mysterious. Trying to keep back the evidence of pain he felt over Sheriff Whitcomb’s pointed remarks, he said:

“I cannot help thinking that your words are unwarranted, Mr. Whitcomb. I will confess there is something about this matter I do not understand; but I want to say to you, gentlemen, that father does not owe a dollar he cannot and will not pay, only give him proper time. Mr. Parton, please do not give yourself any uneasiness in regard to those checks. I will call at the bank early in the morning, if father does not.”

“I trust you will do so, Mr. Sterling, and that everything will be properly adjusted. Good evening, gentlemen,” and without longer delay the bank official left the office.

“ Parton seems mighty little concerned,” muttered the sheriff, “but I guess he will get his eyes open pretty soon. What were you saying, young man? ”

“If you please, sir, I would like to see the note Mr. Corning holds against Sterling & Grasp. ”

In reply the other handed the piece of paper which meant so much to Manly, who examined it closely.

“You see, it is genuine enough,” remarked Mr. Whitcomb.

“I notice that it was not written on the kind of paper used here in the office,” replied Manly, holding it up so the light shone through it, disclosing the water mark, which was a crown with a capital M directly beneath it, and a peculiar flourish in which was given in small letters the balance of the word, “ills.” “I see also that the ink we keep here in the office was not used.” “What has the kind of paper and ink used got to do with the value of the note? ” demanded Mr. Whitcomb, showing more excitement than seemed necessary.

“Nothing, sir; though it may mean considerable in another direction.”

“Do you insinuate the note is a forgery?” asked Mr. Corning, beginning to move about uneasily.

“No, sir. I merely wished to show that the note was not written or signed in the office.” “Very true, very true,” declared Mr. Corning, rubbing his hands and looking relieved. “It was done at my house. Nothing very irregular about that, was there, Mr. Whitcomb?” “If you have no objection, Mr. Cross, I would like to see the note held by Messrs. Earning, Dewing & Dunn,” said Manly.

“Certainly, certainly, Mr. Sterling. You will find nothing irregular about that, though it was duly written and signed before it was seen by them. ”

Upon comparing this latter with the other Manly was not a little surprised to find that it was written upon the same kind of paper and with the same kind of ink.

“Thank you; that is all. Now, as I am not needed here, I think I will go home to quiet mother’s anxiety over father’s absence. I shall be back in a few minutes.”

“You needn’t put yourself out to do it,” said the sheriff. “I am responsible for everything here now. ”

“With both father and Mr. Grasp away it may be necessary for some one to look after affairs about the mills,” replied Manly, somewhat nettled by the officer’s important way.

“Of course; I didn’t mean that.”

As Manly was leaving the office a strip of yellow paper such as is used in sending out notices from telegraph stations caught his eye, and, picking it up, he read, while he felt that he had found the key at least to the secret of Mr. Grasp’s singular disappearance:

“Mr. Leonard Grasp:

“Your father died suddenly this afternoon.” “That explains Mr. Grasp’s absence,” he. said, handing the message to Mr. Whitcomb. “That is dated at four o’clock, and he no doubt left at once for Greenwich. He must have been obliged to leave hastily, without time to speak to any one.”

“Perhaps so,” acknowledged the sheriff, in a tone which showed his unwillingness to say so, while he scrutinized the telegram closely. “What do you think of it, Cross?”

Leaving them discussing the situation, Manly started for his home, with a lighter heart.

CHAPTER V.

ANOTHER TELEGRAM, BUT MORE STARTLING THAN THE FIRST.

Manly found his mother very anxious over the non-appearance of his father, but as she knew nothing of the situation at the mills, she was less concerned than she might otherwise have been. He explained to her the telegram announcing the death of Mr. Grasp’s father, and that it was supposed he had gone home.

“He must have gone away in a great hurry, for everything about the office was left topsyturvy, which was the reason we did not find the message sooner. ”

“Perhaps your father went with him,” said Mrs. Sterling, feeling that at last she had found a clew to the mystery of his disappearance. “He might think it necessary, and not have time to let any one know of his intentions. ”

“Very true,” said Manly, who was glad of the relief the thought gave his mother. “And now I will return to the mills.”

His mother was not unwilling that he should do so, as she hoped he would be able to learn something definite of his father.

Upon reaching the office he found the sheriff alone, the other men having gone home. His father had not appeared, and, feeling that he would not see him that night, he started on a tour of inspection over the works.

That was a night both he and his mother would remember as long as they lived. He went back and forth from the office to the house several times, partly to comfort her and partly in the vain hope that at one place or the other he would find his father. He telegraphed to Greenwich without getting any intelligence of him, though he did not tell this to his mother. So the dawn of another day found them as hopeless as ever, and feeling that they had delayed action already too long, plans for more extended search were being made, when a messenger boy from the telegraph station brought a message directed to the firm.

Breaking the envelope with a trembling hand, Manly read:

“A man we believe to be Henry Sterling of your firm, is confined here.

“A. Duncan, Chief of Police.”

Unable to credit his senses Manly read and reread the message, and as he did so Sheriff 'Whitcomb arose from his seat at the desk and looked over his shoulder, to make himself familiar with the startling information.

‘‘In Greenwich police station!” exclaimed the latter, the first to break the silence, ending his speech with a prolonged whistle.

Believing there must be some dreadful mistake, Manly started at once for the telegraph station to send a message to Greenwich, asking for an explanation. The suspense became almost unendurable while he was obliged to wait, and the answer that came was brief, but terrible:

“He has lost his reason. Crazy as a loon!”

“I must go at once to Greenwich,” he thought. “There is no other alternative. But how came father there? and what does it mean?”

As the first train would not leave until nine-thirty, he would have ample time to go home, and also to look after such other business as demanded his attention. The hardest part of his task would be to break the news to his mother. Hoping it might not prove as bad as it looked, he resolved to withhold from her the whole truth, feeling he was doing what was best in following that course.

Somewhat to his surprise she appeared relieved to know that some trace of him had been received, saying:

“It must have been the news of Mr. Grasp’s death that called him to Greenwich, and he did not have time to let us know. He will doubtless come home this forenoon.”

“I think I had better go and meet him, mother. ”

His voice may have betrayed him, or her mother’s intuition have told her that he had not acknowledged the full truth. There was something wrong he had not dared to tell. Taking him by the hand, and looking him earnestly in the countenance, she said:

“Manly, my son, there is more than you have told me. You are keeping something back. Perhaps you think you are doing it for my good, but I want you to remember that I am as strong as you, and that it is right I should know even the worst.”

He saw his mistake immediately, and he felt guilty for the course he had taken.

“Dear mother, forgive me! I did it for what I believed was your sake, but I can see that it was wrong. You will be better fitted to meet the consequence by knowing the truth now, as terrible as it is. Be brave, for what the end may be I cannot tell. It has all come so suddenly, and is so mysterious, I cannot realize it is so.”

Then, while she listened with a calmness that surprised him, he not only told her of the messages which had been received in regard to his father, but he made her fully acquainted with the situation at the mills.

“It is awful, my son, but you can’t know how glad I am you did not go away without telling me. I must have learned of it all very soon, and you see how much better it will be for us to meet it together. Always remember, my son, you have no truer friend and helper than your mother. It is possible you are unduly alarmed. I believe it has been brought about by the sudden death of Leonard’s father, which has called both him and your father to Greenwich, without preparation for the absence. Let us hope it will end well. One thing you must not forget, Manly; let come what may your father’s good name is above reproach.”

“I know it, dear mother, and you cannot know what strength your hopeful words have given me. I will never try to deceive you again, even by simply remaining silent when the truth should be spoken.”

Feeling wonderfully encouraged by his mother’s firm faith in the ultimate happy outcome of the matter, Manly finished his preparations for his journey to Greenwich. Mindful of his promise to Mr. Parton he resolved to call at the bank on the way to the station, telling his mother of this purpose.

On his way hither he called at the mills to explain to foreman Fulton the whole situation, and to give a few words of advice, finding the latter in hearty sympathy with him.

“I want to tell you one thing. Manlv Sterling, that it is my belief Leonard Grasp is at the bottom of all this trouble.”

Manly did not stop to reply to this. He had seen that Sheriff Whitcomb had put in a keeper and gone away himself. With conflicting emotions which would be difficult to describe, he hastened toward the bank, to find the cashier anxiously looking for him.

“I am glad to see you so punctual,” greeted Mr. Parton. “Mr. Morgan said I was a fool for dallying with you, but I told him I believed you to be a young man of your word and that we could trust you.”

“I thank you, Mr. Parton; I intend to do always as I agree. If you have no objection I would like to see that check.”

“Certainly. I am glad you are prepared to meet it. It lifts a great responsibility from my shoulders. To be honest, the president gave me a fearful blowing up for not having it protested last night.”

“I am very sorry, Mr. Parton, but I have not . come prepared to adjust it. You see it has come so unexpectedly, and father and Mr. Grasp have been called to Greenwich by the death of Matthew Grasp, that it has left affairs in bad shape for a short time. ”

Dismay was written in every line of the cashier’s face, as he handed the check to Manly without speaking.

The young ironworker took the piece of paper and examined it even more critically than he had the notes. He had no hesitation in deciding that it had been written with the same ink used on the others, but the signature of the . firm more than aught else had his attention. His father had always been supposed to sign the checks, but all at once a change came over his countenance, and he exclaimed impetuously: “Mr. Parton, father never signed that check!”

CHAPTER VI.

THE SITUATION AT GREENWICH.

“What is that you are saying, young man?” asked a voice at his elbow, and Manly was surprised to find that Mr. Morgan, the president of the bank, had stepped out of his private office and stood beside him.

“ There is something wrong about this, sir, ” replied Manly. “This signature does not look like father’s, and he always signs the checks.”

“And you dare pronounce it a forgery, young man? You may not realize the gravity of the charge. ”

“I hope you will excuse me, Mr. Morgan, but the writing looks so different from his hand that — ”

“Different from his hand? Do you expect a man is going always to cut his letters according to certain lines, as copy plates do? That is where experts get taken in. The fact is, no man writes alike at all times. Nothing would seem to me stronger evidence of forgery than to find two or more signatures written exactly alike. But that isn’t the question for us to settle. What we want is money—one thousand five hundred dollars. ”

“I am very sorry, Mr. Morgan, hut I cannot pay it until I have seen father. I am going this morning to Greenwich, and as soon as I get—”

Mr. Morgan stopped him with a wave of his fat hand. ' He was an exceedingly pompous man, and inclined to be oppressive to those weaker than himself.

“What have I been telling you, Walter?” turning to the cashier. “This is no more than I expected, and we have delayed action too long. Sterling & Grasp have gone beyond their depth.”

“But Mr. Sterling has always been the soul of honesty, and when his son said that check should be— ”

“Tut-tut! You remember the little story of the pitcher going to the well, Walter, and that it went once at last to be broken. Well, this is a case just like it on a bigger scale. Send it back.”

“I hope you don't think father—”

“No use to waste any words about it, young man. It’s dollars we want, and not words,” and the pompous official returned to his private room.

“You see, it has put me in a hard place,” said Mr. Parton, as soon as the president had left. “You can’t blame me for what I am obliged to do.”

“No—no, but I wish it might stand until I get back from Greenwich! Hello! there is the car whistle now. I shall be too late to catch the train! ”

As Manly ran out of the bank he barely missed running headfirst into Sheriff Whitcomb, who was about entering. He sped at the top of his speed toward the station without stopping to apologize, but as he got within sight of the depot he saw the long train ready to start. By dint of hard running he succeeded in reaching the rear car and swinging himself upon the platform as the train thundered on.

“I wouldn’t advise you to try that every time,” said a passenger, who then began to dilate upon the way the American people have of waiting until the train is in the station and then rushing to catch upon it, “swinging themselves aboard at the peril of their lives.”

Manly Sterling, however, was not in a frame of mind to profit by any such lecture, and he did not speak to or notice any one during the long ride to Greenwich, and as soon as the train came to a stop he hastened to the police station.

He found the chief a very courteous gentleman, who, as soon as he had learned his identity, gave him his undivided attention.

“It is one of the most peculiar cases I ever saw, and wishing to do all I could for the man, I asked Dr. Wise in to see him. I think the doc tor is with him now. How did it happen that he came here? It was like this: Word came to us that a demented man was wandering about the streets, So I sent out and had him taken here at once. As soon as I found out who he was, I telegraphed to Orecroft. The doctor said the best we could do was to keep him until some one came for him. Come this way if you wish to see him. He is not violent, but the doctor fears he will be.”

Under a state of mind he had never dreamed of knowing, and which words cannot describe, Manly followed silently the chief to the room where his father was being kept. He had tried to prepare himself for any ordeal, but he was not equal to the one he met. Could it be possible his father was the changed and altered man crouching in the corner of the small apartment and staring up at him with wide-opened but expressionless eyes? His features were haggard and of a deathly pallor.

“ Oh, father, don’t you know me?”

In an instant his whole demeanor changed, and, holding out his arms, he cried:

“My son! my son! there is one who believes in me yet. ”

“His first rational utterance,” said good old Dr. Wise; “there is hope after all.”

But the swift light of recognition passed in a moment, and the unhappy man paid no further attention to Manly or the others.

“It is the most singular case I ever knew,” said the kindly doctor, with a shake of his gray head. “It is evident that he has been laboring under some great mental strain and has met with some great disappointment.”

“Perhaps with rest he will recover,” said Chief Duncan.

“I am afraid not; I am afraid not.”

“Will there be any harm in his son’s trying to get him home?”

“His home is the best place for him. It is possible that with quiet surroundings he may escape growing violent. Don’t take him to an asylum if it can be avoided. Why, the very surroundings there would render him hopelessly insane. ’’

“Will it be prudent for the boy to take him home alone?”

“It will be safer for me to go. I think I will. To be frank, I feel an uncommon interest in the case. If no objection is raised I hope to have its especial care.”

Nothing could suit Manly better, but as he would have plenty of time before the train for Orecroft would start, he felt that he must see Mr. Grasp, his father’s partner. He was told that Mr. Matthew Grasp’s death was a great shock to the household, as he had been in apparent good health an hour before he had been stricken down.

“Heart difficulty,” said Dr. Wise. “He had been troubled with it for a long time, though he had kept it from his family.”

Leaving his father under the care of the doctor, Manly hastened to the fine residence of the late Mr. Grasp, where he was destined to meet with another startling surprise. Leonard Grasp had not been home, and his mother was nearly wild with grief. All that he could learn was the meager fact that the son had telegraphed from Orecroft that he would come as soon as possible.

“ Something has happened to prevent his getting here, but he will come—he must!”

Manly made no reply to this, though at last he felt his faith in the other weakening. There was a meaning as well as mystery in the disappearance of Leonard Grasp. As he had no family, until some clew as to his whereabouts could be ascertained a search for him must be made at hazard.

The journey to Orecroft was uneventful. Dr. Wise accompanied Manly and his father, though, as it proved, his presence was not needed. If they had expected any change in the appearance of Mr. Sterling upon meeting familiar scenes they were disappointed. With the same unconcern he might have been expected to show among strangers, speaking to no one, he entered his home and sank into the old arm chair that had been his favorite seat in years gone by.

Mrs. Sterling, who had been schooling herself for this sad meeting, was forced to turn away to conceal the tears which would come.

In the midst of this melancholy meeting a loud rap sounded on the door, which caused Mrs. Sterling to glance nervously out of the window.

“ Oh, dear me, here comes a messenger from the mills—one of the boys—and he is crying like a child. What can have happened now? Oh! is there anything worse to meet?”

CHAPTER VII.

THE SHUTDOWN.

“Be calm, mother,” said Manly reassuringly. “There can be nothing worse to come, and we will hope brighter tidings are in store for ns. As I can do no good here, I will see what the boy wants and go back with him to the mills. ” Seeing that his mother’s countenance brightened at his words, the young ironworker left the room to answer the summons at the door. He found Curly outside, anxiously awaiting him.

“What is the trouble now, Curly? Has Bleak been beating you again?”

“Yes, sir; he kicked me down this morning and said dreadful things against me, but that ain’t nothing like this other. What has come over ’em all? Men hev all stopped work and air jess standing round and a-swearing and a-cursing at each other. They say work is done at the mills. Dad is cursing louder’n enny one. ”

While Curly was speaking in a hurried manner between his gasps of fright and grief, Manly saw a body of men coming rapidly over the bridge and approaching the house. He knew the sight of them would worry his mother, so he said:

“ Come alone with me, Curly. Bleak has had his last chance to beat you. We will soon see what the trouble is at the mill.”

Purposely quickening his steps Manly by this time had come within speaking distance of the approaching party, which was talking loudly one with another. They were all workmen from the “upper furnaces,” as the west portion of the works was called, and upon recognizing him stopped with one accord.

“How now, men,” greeted Manly, “w hat is up? ”

“I should say the very de’il was to pay,” muttered the leader, a tall, dark-visaged, beetle-browed man in middle life. “Where’s the ol’ man?”

“If you mean father, he is at the house, sir. He is sick.”

“Whoot, mon! be keerful wot he gin us!” broke in another. “Ain’t th’ ol’ mon run erway?”

“No, Robbins. He is at the house sick,” replied Manly, looking the speaker squarely in the face. “Who told you he had run away?”

“They air sayin’ so at th’ mills, an’ work is shut down. No more is goin’ bein’ done.”

“I should like to know who gave such an order. Father is sick and I am afraid he will not very soon do any more work, but you have no need to stop. Orecroft iron mills must and shall be kept running. ”

A faint cheer greeted this firm declaration, and with one accord the little crowd started back toward the mills, with Manly and Curly following close upon their heels.

As they approached the mills our hero could see that everywhere there was evidence of a sort of suppressed excitement. Men were collected in small groups talking in low, but earnest tones, many gesticulating in an excited manner. From the sounds, or rather the lack of sounds, he understood that considerable of the machinery was still. "Work had been stopped in various parts of the foundry. Until that moment, in the great anxiety and burden of calamity which had so suddenly and unexpectedly fallen on him, Manly had not dreamed of this change.

From one of the knots of workmen Foreman Fulton stepped in his rapid, brusque manner toward Manly, as soon as he had seen him.

“I want to know what is to he done,” he said briefly. “Everything is heads and tails. have been ordered to shut down the mills, but I refused to do that entirely until I had heard from the firm. I am working for Sterling & Grasp, and not for that contemptible sheriff with his brag and bluster. ’’

The words gave Manly hope and courage, for he knew John Fulton was a man he could count on.

“I am afraid Sterling & Grasp are not in a way to give you an order, Mr. Fulton,” he said, frankly. “Father is unable to leave the house, and I do not know where Mr. Grasp is.”

“It don’t matter much where Leonard Grasp is, and I have heard of your father’s sickness, Manly. In that case I must look to you for my orders.”

“Sheriff Whitcomb has attached everything about the mills,” said Manly, resolved to keep nothing from Mr. Fulton. “I suppose if he says shut down we can’t help ourselves.”

“I don’t know what is at the bottom of all this, but I can see through a sieve, and that is about all that is required to see that this infernal sheriff is bent on ruining this concern. I believe he thinks there is a dollar in doing it.”

Mr. Fulton was blunt in his manner, and he showed that he was honest in his convictions at all times. His abrupt words now opened Manly’s eyes as some better chosen language might not have done. Was it possible Sheriff Whitcomb was behind a scheme to break down the firm and reap a harvest from the ruin he might make?

“ There is something about the situation I do not understand,” replied Manly, “and I am afraid matters are hopelessly entangled.”

“Stand up for your rights every time, my boy. Nobody else will for you, but you can count on old John Fulton through thick and thin. There comes that sheriff out of your father’s private room. What business has he there? ”

The same question was on Manly’s lips, but he wisely did not give it utterance, while he waited for the officer to come forward.

“I can’t make anything out of your father’s work,” said Mr. Whitcomb, as if the others were to blame for it. “I suppose you know all about it, young man?”

“I know something, sir, about it. ”

“Of course, you will explain what you know. You see, it is really necessary for us to get something out of it to save ourselves. I find affairs in a worse shape than I had expected. You gave me no inkling of the brink of financial ruin on which the firm stood. My creditors are badly boxed, for as near as I can figure it out the claims will run up over a hundred thousand. I don’t suppose the whole plant will bring fifty under the hammer. Hilloa! here is Hildreth! I hope you don’t owe him anything. ”

While speaking Mr. Whitcomb had slowly started back toward the office, until the sight of the newcomer driving into the yard caused him to stop.

Manly recognized this man as one with whom his father had long done business and whom he believed was strictly just in his dealings.

“ Good morning,” greeted this Mr. Hildreth.

“I hope this had news isn’t as bad as I hear. How is your father, Manly?”

“I hardly know what to tell you, Mr. Hildreth. He is at the house, and though we hope he will soon be out, we are afraid it will be some time before he is able to do anything.”

“Sorry, sorry to hear it. What! have you shut down business? ”

“Yes,” the sheriff hastened to say. “You see,” he added, “matters have got into pretty bad shape, and I had to step in to save my creditors. I hope the firm doesn’t owe you anything, Hildreth. ”

The latter, without replying, stepped from his carriage.

“I want to talk with you a moment, Mr. Sterling,” he said, “and then I will go over to the house and see your father.”

“Come right into the office, Mr. Hildreth,” said Manly, leading the way, while Whitcomb and the others followed.

Upon reaching the office they found a man already there who paid no heed to them as they entered.

“Mr. David Hawke, my keeper over the premises,” said Mr. Whitcomb.

Mr. Hildreth, without more than glancing toward the man who rose to reply to the introduction, turned to the sheriff, saying:

“It seems to me, Mr. Whitcomb, that you have begun to carry rather a high hand here. ”

“Doing only what the law allows and justice demands. You see, business has been running at loose ends for a long time, and now the firm is hopelessly involved.”

“ Sho! I was not aware of it. Its credit has always been good with us.”

“ Sometimes good credit is an injury to a man —a positive injury. Now, Sterling meant to do right, but his good name allowed him to swamp himself.”

“How? I do not understand, Mr. Whitcomb. ”

“Why, that invention has swallowed up every dollar he could get hold of. But I have included that in my attachment under a double head, so if there is any money in it my creditors will get something to help them out. ”

“But that is father’s private property, Mr. Whitcomb, and you cannot take that for debts of the firm, ” said Manly.

“I’ll see about that. Nothing is going to be exempted here, not if I know it. Say, Hawke, I thought I ordered those furnace fires to be put out.”

“It will raise trouble among the workmen if we do,” replied the keeper. “They are like a sleeping volcano, but begin to poke them and they’ll break into a fight.”

CHAPTER VIII.

‘‘LIKE HIS FATHER.”

“Why need work be shut down at all, Mr. Whitcomb?” asked Manly.

“Of course business cannot go on in such a tangle. It will take weeks, perhaps months, to straighten out affairs. Hawke, see that man whom I gave the order to to stop at once, and ask him why I have not been obeyed. ”

Sheriff Whitcomb spoke loud enough to be heard at a considerable distance, and his speech was followed by a low, but very sharp hiss from those who had gathered in and about the office.

“Mr. Whitcomb, in the interest of yourself and your creditors I hope you will not insist upon this order.”

The officer turned sharply upon the youthful speaker, but allowed him to continue:

“ Only harm can come of stopping work here at this time. I am sorry any complications have arisen in the affairs, and I do not believe there is any tangle which cannot be fixed in a few days. While it is being done, let the men keep at their work. They need their wages. There are enough orders to keep every furnace going night and day. It is for your creditors ’ interest work is not stopped. ”

“So you are running this business, are you, young man?” demanded Whitcomb sharply. “Well see about this pretty soon.”

“It seems to me the boy is right,” said Hildreth. “As long as the help can be kept at work, why not do so?”

“Mr. Hildreth, have you any personal interest in this concern?” demanded the sheriff, with a strong accent on the word “personal.” “Because if you have you have a right to be heard.” “I don’t know as I exactly catch your meaning, Mr. Whitcomb, but I think Hildreth & Hil dretli have about as much at stake here as any one.”

“Do you mean the firm is owing you, sir!” “We have a small claim, but we do not propose to crowd too bard, unless the rest drive us to it.”

“So they are owing you? Worse and worse. How much is your claim, Mr. Hildetli?”

“I am not prepared to say here, but I will be ready to give a statement at the meeting of the creditors you have warned. Now, it is my advice we let the young man go right on with the business as if nothing had happened.”

“In my opinion that shows you haven’t much of a claim. But how are you going to keep help which has not been paid? As for myself, I have no money to advance in any such wild-goose undertaking as to put this concern in the hands of a rattle-headed boy.”

“Is there a man among you who wants his wages?” asked Manly, in a moment, addressing the workmen who stood about.

“Yes, sir; me!” replied one of the spectators. “ And there is Bill here, too.”

“How much is due you?” demanded Manly.

“Wage sence Monday morning,” was the prompt reply, followed by a chorus of laughs from his companions.

“And that is all?”

“Yes, sir.”

By this time Manly’s hand had dropped into one of his pockets, and, bringing out his pocket-book, he began to count out the amount of the three days’ pay due the man.

“Here it is. You are at liberty, sir, to go your way. Is there any one else here who wants his money?”

This had been done so quickly and unexpectedly that no one replied.

Even the workman who had asked for and received his earnings did not offer to move away, but he stood fumbling the money and looking exceedingly foolish.

“Look a-hyur, Mr. Sterling!” he said, as soon as he could collect himself enough to speak again. “I don’t a-want this monish ef you can pay it. I don’t want to go away ef John is goin’ to stay. ”

“ Every man can stay who wishes; but every man can go away who wishes. ”

“Spoken just like his father,” said a grayheaded veteran of the forges. “If you please, young man, it’s work we want now, an’ at th’ end of th’ week monish for our famblies.”

“You shall have it as you wish, Joe. Mr. Fulton, I leave the men in your charge. Unless Mr. Whitcomb really objects business and work is going on as if nothing unusual had happened.”

Sheriff Whitcomb parted his lips three times to speak, but the words he would speak did not come, and with exclamations of pleasure the workmen started for their respective posts of duty.

“Good for you, Manly Sterling,” said Mr. Hildreth. “You are the one to take charge here. ”

“I should think it was taking considerable authority which don’t belong to him,” muttered the sheriff. “But of course I don’t object. I am only a servant of the law, and what pleases the rest of you suits me, only I warn you the worst of this matter has not come to the surface yet. Keep your eyes open, Hawke, and at the least sign of a riot or anything not down in the plan, let me know. Good day all.”

With these words the sheriff left the place.

“Whew! what has come over Whit?” exclaimed Mr. Hildreth. “But I can’t stop any longer. If your father is able to see any one, I will run over to the house. ”

Manly was forced to confess that his father was not in a condition to appreciate a call from any one, when Mr. Hildreth expressed his regrets and hopes of a speedy recovery, while he prepared to go away.

“Well, the most I can say is to keep up good courage. I hope the cloud will soon blow away. ”

As soon as his visitors had gone Manly began to clear up the office and get things into their proper places, finding this no easy job. As he worked his mind was busy with plans for the future, for he felt that it would not do for him to stop in the undertaking his father had begun.

“To stop here means the loss of all he has got. I must get at the bottom of Leonard Grasp’s work and find how the firm is really standing, so as to meet these creditors as best I can.”

Manly had requested Mr. Grasp’s folks at Greenwich to telegraph him the moment the missing man should appear, if he came home, but the day passed .without bringing him any such message. Neither had any trace of him been found elsewhere. Naturally the conviction grew stronger and stronger that Leonard Grasp had purposely fled, and that it would be many a day before he would be seen by those he had left behind.

As heretofore both Manly’s father and Mr. Grasp had been in active duty, the one by day and the other by night, it became our hero’s first object to find two men to take their places.

He believed he could not do better than to give John Fulton first place for the night watches, and accordingly he called the latter to him and explained fully what he wanted.

“I want you to shift from the day to the night hours because I do not know of a man I can so fully trust. I expect to be here in the daytime myself, but I shall get Kent Knerl to take your place; I mean the situation you have been holding.”

“Knerl will be a good man for you,” said Fulton. “It will come a little hard for me at first, but I will do anything you ask and do it the best I know. We will keep work humming, or I don’t know my trade. Do you find affairs in very bad shape, Manly?”

“I can’t exactly tell you, but it looks as if Grasp had got hold of every dollar he could before he skipped.”

There were several callers that afternoon, and a part of them had bills to collect, but Manly found himself in better spirits at the close of the day than he had felt it possible to be. As a rule he was given courteous treatment by those who had hurried to the mills as soon as the flying stories of the disaster had reached them.

Manly had soon found that considerable was due the firm from outstanding bills, but he suspected at the very outset many of these had been collected by Grasp and not been handed in. Just how far this part of the other’s peculations had gone only time and investigation could prove.

When he went home that evening he found no change in his father’s condition, while his mother was anxious to know how affairs were at the mills.

The following day about noon Manly was somewhat surprised to receive an invitation to meet with the creditors of the firm at two o’clock.

CHAPTER IX.

SHERIFF WHITCOMB'S TRIUMPH.

Manly had been told that the creditors were holding a meeting in the forenoon, but he was at a loss to anticipate the import of this request to meet with them at their adjourned session.

Promptly at two he reached the bank, in the president’s room of which he was to meet the others, and he found Mr. Hildreth and Corning already there.

“Glad to see you so prompt,” said the former, “for I consider it the very best recommendation a young man can give is to be always on hand. Ah, here come Morgan and Whitcomb. You will soon understand the object of coming here. ”

Besides the four named, there were soon present Mr. Cutter of the firm of Cutter, Welch & Co., the holder of the protested check, and a dozen other creditors, representing amounts from ten dollars to five hundred dollars.

It proved that Mr. Morgan had been chosen chairman, and he called the meeting to order with a wave of his fat hand.

This was no sooner done than Sheriff "Whitcomb arose, addressing the president:

“Mr. Chairman, I protest against this boys’ play. It is infamous. I find the further I carry my investigations the deeper Sterling & Grasp are in the mud. They are hopelessly involved, and every day’s delay means less for my clients.

“That’s so,’’ declared Corning, moving uneasily on his seat. “I find a mistake in casting the interest on my note, and that there is twentv cents more due me than was calculated this forenoon.”

This statement brought a smile to the lips of some of those present, while others showed their contempt for the speaker. Mr. Hildreth next spoke, saying:

“I wonld like to ask how much Mr. Whitcomb considers he is behind in this matter.”

“I can tell you pretty quick, sir. I consider myself responsible for Coming’s note of abont eleven hundred, Earning, Dewing & Dnnn for some over two thousand, Cntter, Welch & Co. eight hundred, the bank here fifteen hundred and Bronson’s check of two hundred. How much does that make, Mr. Hildreth? ”

“Between five and six thousand,” replied the latter, who had put down the sums mentioned, as soon as he could foot them up. “Even all those, Whitcomb, you will perceive are below the claim of Hildreth & Hildreth, which is over seven thousand dollars. We are the largest claimants against the firm, but my partners or myself do not feel like crowding the concern. Now it was my suggestion that we get the young man who must necessarily carry on the business here and have him give a statement as to what it seems possible for him to do. It is possible by combining our interests and working together that we can pull out of this without losing a dollar. According to your own testimony we cannot expect to get more than fifty cents on a dollar by pressing a settlement.” “Let me have my way, and I believe I can get a little more than I at first concluded. But you must remember that every days delay adds to the expense of the settlement and shrinks the valuation of the property. My clients are all anxious for a speedy settlement.”

“I would like to ask the young man a few questions, if no one objects,” said Mr. Hildreth; and none of the others doing so, he continued, addressing Manly:

“How has business been at the iron mills for the past year?”

“Never better, sir, to my knowledge.”

“You have known of no falling off during the last six months?”

“No, sir.”

“How do the last three months compare with those immediately preceding?”

“Favorably, sir.”

“And you have plenty of work to keep the mills running on full time for quite a spell?” “For six months I should say, sir. There is an order for fifteen thousand dollars worth of work which we shall be obliged to rush through as fast as possible.”

“I should like to ask him,” interposed Whitcomb, “how he accounts for the mountain of debts if business has been so good.”

“It seems to have come about by Mr. Grasp. He could explain it, and perhaps satisfactorily. ”

“Pretty bold statement to make, it seems to me. I understand you infer this Grasp has been stealing the firm’s funds?”

“I said no such thing, sir.”

“But you accuse him of taking the firm’s money?”

“It looks as if he had, sir.”

“Didn’t your father sign every check and paper issued by the concern?”

“He was supposed to.”

“Exactly. And his signature is on all of these notes and papers held by the creditors of the firm. ”

“Am I on trial, gentlemen?”

“Oh, no,” Mr. Hildreth hastened to say. “This is but an informal talk to see what is best to be done. Do you think, Mr. Sterling, the business could be run so as to pay its indebtedness and come out whole?”

“I do, sir.”

“How many bills has the firm out to collect, should you say? ”

“I should say from the hasty examination I % have been able to make the firm has from five thousand to ten thousand dollars due it.”

“I should like to ask,” again broke in Mr. Whitcomb, “what valuation you put on your father’s invention of welding? From the best information I can get, that has been the leak in the concern.”

Before Manly could reply one of the bank clerks stuck his head into the room, saying:

“Sheriff Whitcomb is wanted at the door. Some one from Greenwich to see him.”

The officer lost no time in answering the summons, and as he left the room Mr. Hildreth said: “Do you think your father put much money into his experiments, Mr. Sterling!”

“Not a dollar, sir, of the firm’s money.”

“I hardly thought so. He considered that individual property? ”

“He did, sir.”

“How much do you honestly believe the firm is in debt!”

“From fifteen to twenty thousand dollars— possibly a little more. I cannot tell until I know how far Mr. Grasp carried his work. ” “Has your father any money to help carry on the business! I mean any personal valuation!”

“No, sir.”

“In order to pay any of the creditors, should they demand it, you would have to borrow!” Again Manly was spared an answer to an embarrassing question by an interruption..

Sheriff Whitcomb returned hurriedly to the room, showing by his looks and manner that he was not only excited hut exultant, as he cried: “Well, this winds up the concern if nothing else does. I have just had a claim put in my hands for twenty-five thousand dollars, which is secured by a mortgage and seized by the creditors of Matthew Grasp. It seems this Grasp has been embezzling to an enormous amount, and if Sterling & Grasp ain’t under water now I miss my guess. ”

A long, painful silence followed the startling, triumphant announcement, while Manly felt that this was the avalanche to crush him.

CHAPTER X.

MR. WHITCOMB MAKES AN OFFER.

“You speak in riddles, Whitcomb,” said Mr. Hildreth, the first to break the silence.

“There are none so hard to understand as those who don’t want to,” replied the officer sharply. “It proves that if Leonard Grasp is a rascal he has come legitimately by his dishonesty, if there is anything in heredity. His father has proved to be the bigger thief, for he has embezzled money to more than fifty thousand dollars. It also proves, and we were blind not to have found it out, that Matthew Grasp had loaned Sterling and his son money to carry on this business and secured himself by a mortgage on the mills. Now the creditors of Matthew Grasp have ordered me to seize everything here, as they believe they can hold even more than the mortgage holds, as Leonard Grasp’s interests were his father’s.”

“ Preposterous! ” exclaimed Mr. Hildreth. “It looks as if you were bent on ruining the prospects of the boy.”

“I should think you would give him your claim, Hildreth, you are so friendly toward him. But we have got to do our duty without regard to sentiment. Of course I am sorry for Sterling, but this Grasp has only been caught in his own toils. ”

“It seems to me he is far from being caught. But this is not the point for us to consider now. What we want to decide is the best course for us to pursue. ”

“Exactty. The rest of you can talk the matter over to your satisfaction. I must see that the proper papers are served at once.”

“Very true. You say this claim is secured by a mortgage? ”

“Yes, sir.”

“Look here, Whitcomb,” interposed Mr. Corning, catching the sheriff by the sleeve as he rose to depart, “I hope you aren’t going to do anything to jeopardize my interest. You know I was the first man to move in this matter, and, of course, I am to get the first money paid back.”

“ You will have to take your chances with the rest,” replied the officer, as he left the room, the distracted Corning following him.

“Well, this is a pretty mess of fish,” declared Mr. Bronson. “It begins to look so we shouldn’t get much out of it. At any rate, I will take twenty-five cents on a dollar for my claim.”

“Don’t say anything rash, gentlemen,” said Mr. Hildreth.,“I allow it looks pretty dark, but it is for our interest to move carefully: I for one am in favor of letting the business go on, only see that everything is run for the best.”

“I think we can stand it if you can, Hildreth,” said Mr. Earning.

“So can we,” said Mr. Cutter.

“We certainly cannot,” replied Mr. Morgan. “ I shall move for active process. Whitcomb is charged to look after our interest.”

Mr. Bronson was equally as anxious to have proceedings go on.

“We know pretty well how Corning feels,” declared Hildreth. “But these gentlemen, with smaller claims, seem willing to be lenient. ”

“We want to do what is best for all concerned,” they acknowledged.

“That is just what we want to do,” said Mr. Hildreth. “Now you are all made as secure as you can be, and a short delay cannot injure your prospects, particularly while the mills are kept running. I move we give the boy a few days’ respite, during which I have no doubt he will be able to fix the matter up so as to run along easily.”

The majority of the creditors voting in favor of this the meeting then dissolved.

As soon as the others began to leave Mr. Hildreth motioned for Manly to come with him, saying as soon as they were alone:

“How much money do you think you must have to keep on?”

“Ten thousand dollars, but I do not know where I can raise a cent of it.”

“I am glad you have set your estimate so high, for it shows you realize your situation.” “A portion of these creditors have got to be paid in order to continue without trouble.” “You are right. You have got to pay up Corning, Bronson and Morgan, sure. That will take about three thousand, while there will be others to swell it to five thousand. Now I think I know where you can get the money. At any rate it will do no harm to try, and I will go and see them with you this evening.”

With this encouragement Manly returned to the mills, finding the sheriff still there in consultation with his keeper.

Corning was also there, looking more anxious than ever.

“You have been a long time coming,” greeted Mr. Whitcomb. “I am waiting to have you show me what you can about this process of welding your father was at work on. I think I know of a man who can finish it to perfection. ”

“That was father’s private matter, Mr. Whitcomb, and I do not wish to meddle with it.”

“The bigger fool you are then. But it is virtually in my hands now and I demand that you show it to me. ”

“I feel obliged to refuse you, Mr. Whitcomb, for the reason given.”

“Defy me, do you! Seems to me you show pretty poor judgment if you want to keep affairs running along smoothly. Come out here a moment,” motioning for Manly to follow him aside from the others.

As soon as they were beyond hearing of the others, he said:

“What is everybody’s business is nobody’s business. The fact is I have a proposition to make to you in good faith. It is possible with plenty of capital and the right man behind it something can be made out of that process of your father’s, but it is worth nothing to you. Now, I am willing to do this to help you out of an awkward situation: Put that little matter into my hands and I will fix it with your creditors so they will not bother you. ”

Manly could not help showing his surprise at this offer, and the sheriff hastened to say: “You don’t think I can do this. But I assure you I have unbounded power over them. If I say the word they will let you alone until you can bridge over this difficulty. Is it a bargain? Please remember the scheme of your father’s is worth nothing to you.”

“If it is worth nothing to me, Mr. Whitcomb, then it is worth no more to you. Father spent many anxious hours over it and I do not care to throw it away.”

‘‘ Call it throwing it away, do you?’’ asked the sheriff, showing anger. “I supposed you would jump at the chance.”

“That is where you are mistaken, sir. I prefer to keep the process in my hands. ”

“Your hands? You seem to forget it has already passed out of your hands. You seem to forget the ruin and disaster which lies at your feet. I can hold you back from it if you say the word.”

“ I forget nothing, Mr. Whitcomb, and while I wish to thank you for what you may be able to do for me, I shall be more grateful if you will do what you can for me.”

Sheriff Whhitcomb turned away without replying, and seeing Kent Knerl, the new foreman, signalling to him, Manly entered the mills at once.

CHAPTER XI.

THE MESSAGE EROM GREENWICH.

“I only wanted to put a flea in your ear,” said the foreman, as Manly joined him. “That man Hawke is just poking his nose into everything, and he had the audacity to ask for the key to the shop where your father’s kit is. I didn’t believe you wanted him there, and I would not have let him get in anyway. I don’t like that feller.”

“Nor I either, Kent. You did right in not allowing him to enter father’s workshop, and I am glad I had that door fixed up this afternoon. I must see that it is more securely locked.”

Manly could not help thinking of Mr. Whitcomb’s eagerness to get his father’s invention into his possession.

“It shows he considers it is worth something, and I must guard it with unceasing care. As soon as I can get into easier circumstances I will see if I cannot finish what poor father has been obliged to drop. ”

It was hard for him to concentrate his mind on a hopeful relief from the network of difficulty and financial disaster. When he went home to his supper he told his mother of the mortgage of Matthew Grasp, to find her less surprised than he had expected.

“I knew your father and Leonard had borrowed money of Leonard’s father, and I do not doubt the justice of the claim. Your father had very little money with which to start business, and his object in taking in Leonard was the money the latter could get. Mr. Matthew Grasp always seemed to be so honest I cannot realize that he was so wicked at heart. I pity poor Mrs. Grasp. ”

“So do I, mother. How selfish it has been of me not to have thought of any one else in our misfortune. At any rate, no one, can call a Sterling dishonest. They never shall have that reason. ”

“ Nobly spoken, my son. Adversity can bring no disgrace as long as you look it squarely in the face with an honest heart.”

“Father has shown no signs of getting better?” asked Manly, showing by the way he had asked his question he anticipated the reply.

“No change, Manly. He has sat there all day in his chair, never speaking, looking out of the window, not even looking up to see what I was doing. It is so strange, so hard to bear.” “Let us hope it won’t be for a very long time, mother. There, I promised to meet Mr. Hildreth at the post office, as he is going with me to try and hire some money. ”

“I am sorry you are obliged to do this, but you know what is best to be done. I have heard your father speak very highly of Mr. Hildreth. They were schoolmates together and great friends in their boyhood. There, I will not keep you longer.”

Though they possessed a melancholy interest,

Manlv always felt better for his talks with his mother and better fitted to cope with the trying scenes surrounding his young life.

He reached the post office at the same time as Mr. Hildreth, when they started at once to see the man whom they were hoping might lend his financial assistance in this hour of trouble.

“If we had the money we would gladly let you have it, ” said Mr. Hildreth, as they walked along together, “but if the truth be told we have got to borrow to get along ourselves.”

Though his friend had been too thoughtful to say so, Manly understood that the other was making a sacrifice of which he had not before dreamed in not getting the money due him from Sterling & Grasp.

“If I can get hold of any money I must try and pay him a part,” he thought.

But if Mr. Hildreth had had his. hopes of hiring ten thousand dollars those hopes were destined to be speedily lost, for their request was met with a firm refusal.

“Short ourselves,” said the first man they called on. “Sorry, Hildreth, as I would like to help your young friend, who seems like an honest and deserving youth.”

“Well, we must try again,” said the latter, trying not to show his disappointment.

But when they had seen three men without getting any encouragement, he declared:

“I didn’t dream of this, Manly. I thought Gilpin was sure to let us have it. No doubt he has it, but it is generally the way; when we want assistance most it is hardest to find it. This is as far as we can go now, and we shall have to watch and wait. We may find some one yet. ”

“Perhaps I had better see to-morrow if I cannot collect some of that money which is due us.”

“It will do no harm, though Whitcomb will not let any you get of it remain in your hands. Still, if you can get the promise of some it will enable you to pay off such creditors as Corning. It is unfortunate you have such a man as the sheriff to deal with.”

Manly felt the truth of this statement, while he at the same time felt that he was fortunate to have such a friend as Mr. Hildreth.

The following day Manly carried out his resolution to see what he could learn of the chances of getting some of the money due the firm, but everywhere he was met by the same answer.

Leonard Grasp had already collected every dollar that was available. But not a cent of this had he turned over to the company. As he had been bookkeeper it had been easier for him to conceal what he had done.

Manly was now enabled to estimate that the missing member of the firm had in this way defrauded the company out of over six thousand dollars.

The startling fact now stared him in the face that they could not hope to get a dollar where they had looked for so much to help meet the indebtedness of the firm.

A less brave youth must have lost courage now, if not before, and have given up the fight.

“It means complete ruin to father,” he said to his mother that evening. “Whitcomb seems to have it all in his hands, even to father’s invention. I am sure that is worth many thousand dollars if it can he perfected, and what is of still greater account it means the restoration of father’s health. Mother, I must—I cannot fail to carry this undertaking through. ”

“I hope you will succeed, my son, I hope so, but I fear for the result. Everything seems against you.”

Manly had expected to see Mr. Hildreth during the day, but to his disappointment the other did not come near the mills.

The next morning he found Whitcomb already at the office when he got there, though he had left home early. The sheriff showed by his looks that he was in good humor, and after nodding to the young master of the iron mills he said:

“I presume you have heard the news, young man. Tour friend Hildreth is taking a dose of the same kind of medicine the physician of fortune is administering to you.”

“ I do not understand you, sir.”

“ Perhaps you do not want to. It is simply that Hildreth & Hildreth are under a cloud. They have failed!”

Mr. Whitcomb knew no bit of news he could have told would have given Manly much greater pain, and he smiled as our hero showed by his looks the effect of the announcement.

“I cannot think they are very deeply involved, sir. They have been considered sound by every one. ”

“So was Sterling & Grasp, until the truth became known. You can never tell the real condition of a firm by the appearance on the surface of their transactions anv more than you can a person’s health by the amount of flesh on his bones.”

Manly did not care to continue the conversation, which had only, bitter fruit for him. He felt sorry for Mr. Hildreth, but he could not help wondering what effect his failure was to have on him.

“That seven thousand dollars will have to be paid as soon as any,” lie thought. He was arrested from further conclusions by the appearance of Curly, who looked excited.

“I want to see yon,” whispered the boy, “but they mustn’t know I am with you. I will meet you down by the lower forge as soon as you can come.”

Without stopping for Manly’s reply Curly darted away, and mystified over his action, our hero followed him as quickly as he felt it policy.

He found Curly anxiously awaiting him, and at once he thrust a piece of paper into Manly’s hand, which did not require a second glance to show that it was a telegram directed to him.

He saw that it was dated at Greenwich, and was a request from Mrs. Matthew Grasp to call at her home as soon as possible, on important business.

“It’s yours, ain’t it?” asked Curly, eagerly. “I couldn’t read it very well, but I knew from what he said it was for you, though Hawke said he would take it.”

“How came you by it?”

“I hope I did right, but—but I took it out of Hawke’s pocket to his coat. You see, he didn’t intend to let you know it had come. I hope I have done you a good turn. I meant to, sir.”

Feeling that the end justified the means, Manly thanked Curly for what he had done, feeling more than ever the utter lack of honor possessed by the men who were working against him.

“I mean to keep on the watch for you all the time,” said Curly, showing that he appreciated the kind words. “I overheard them say yesterday they were going to put you under. I suppose you know what it all means, but I don’t.”

Not knowing what Mrs. Grasp’s object could be in sending for him to come to Greenwich, he felt that it was his duty to go, as much as he disliked to leave. So he hastened home to change his clothes and get ready for the journey upon which was depending more than he dreamed. Could he have foreseen the result he must have stood aghast.

CHAPTER XII.

FOR THE SAKE OF A HORSE.

Before leaving Orecroft Manly saw Kent Knerl, to tell of his enforced absence for the day, and warned him to keep a sharp lookout over affairs. Also to be sure and see Mr. Hildreth if he should call while he was gone.

After an uneventful ride to Greenwich, upon reaching that city Manly lost no time in starting toward the fine residence of the late Matthew Grasp, feeling more anxious to know what this sudden visit meant to him as he drew nearer and nearer his destination.

Affairs of slight moment in themselves alone—little incidents which seem to have no connection with the real purpose in our lives often entirely change the objects and the results for which we are striving. Thus a very small matter, speaking of itself, delayed indefinitely Manly’s visit to the Grasp home, if its results were not to portend more.

As he was hurrying along one of the less traveled streets leading toward the heart of the city his attention was arrested by seeing a crowd of people blocking the way at one place.

In his state of mind he would have gladly kept on his course without paying any heed to the scene had he been able to push his way through the crowd.

He did manage to get near enough to find that the cause of all the commotion and suppressed excitement was the inhuman treatment of a driver of a horse hitched to a job team loaded with boxes. The animal, it appeared, had refused to draw its big load further, and having settled back upon its haunches was stubbornly receiving the furious blows of its master with a stolid indifference.

“I’ll kill you!” yelled the infuriated driver, “but you shall pull this load. Not a box will I throw off.”

A faint cheer from some of the spectators encouraged the excited man to renew his blows from a heavy whip with increased fury.

This served to cause the suffering horse, which must have been a very sensitive creature in spite of its present stubbornness, to rise upon its hind legs, and then to throw itself backward until the rear wheels stood in the gutter. But not a step would the wounded animal advance.

Finding himself defied and defeated in that direction, the hard-hearted man leaped to the ground, and, going in front of the horse and shaking the butt of the deadly whip in front of the bewildered horse, shouted hoarsely:

“You’ll take this load out of here or you’ll never leave these tracks alive! ”

He supplemented this speech with a string of oaths, and raised the whip for the blow he intended should fell the horse upon its knees. It seemed strange there was no man in that crowd to interfere, but one and all seemed bound by the horrible fascination of the spell, or through fear of the brutal wretch.

But if there was not a man with the moral courage to stay his mad stroke, Manly Sterling was unable to stand a mute spectator of the cruel assault.

A sharp scream of pain from a girlish voice somewhere in the midst of the crowd mav have lent him impetus to spring forward and attempt to stop the inhuman proceeding. At any rate, before the fearful instrument of torture could descend he had sprung to the man’s side, and, seizing the uplifted whip in one hand, cried:

“Stop, sir! You shall not abuse that poor horse in that way! ”

Amazed at this interference, the driver wheeled about to face the newcomer. Finding him but a youth, his presence of mind, as well as his courage, quickly returned, and, snatching the whip from his hold, exclaimed:

“Get out of the way, or I’ll lam you worser I hev the hoss! ”

Showing no alarm, Manly replied:

“Strike if you wish, but you shall not give that poor horse another blow.”

Then the spectators suddenly recovered their true sentiments, and a hearty cheer of admiration for the brave boy rang on the air. The man saw that he had suddenly lost sympathy with the crowd, and the sight of the undaunted youth quietly facing him caused him to quickly change his tactics, and he said sullenly:

“Mebbe you can make thet boss pull that load, but I reckon your temper wouldn’t be any better’n mine if you’d fooled with ’im all the morning.”

“You have overloaded him,” replied Manly, beginning to stroke the creature’s head. “He looks like a fine animal, but he should be treated kindly. Kind words are better than blows always. ”

While speaking he continued to pat the creature and to run his hand over its head and neck, even rubbing its forelegs and smoothing the coat on its body. When he had done this for a short time he took hold of its bit and urged the horse to start.

The change which had come over it seemed remarkable. Its whole demeanor had suddenly changed, and at its youthful master’s words it sprang to its work, struggling for all it could in its efforts to move the load. Three times the noble creature slipped and sank upon its knees, to rally each occasion to put still greater effort into its task, until the heavy wheels began to roll out of the gutter, and trembling in every limb the horse gained the middle of the street, when Manly allowed it to stop and rest.

Cheering louder than ever, the spectators immediately began to disperse, feeling that they had no further interest in the scene. But the strangest part was yet to come.

CHAPTER XIII.

A BOLD REQUEST.

The trembling horse had barely come to a standstill, and, panting for breath, stood with bowed head seeking Manly’s caresses, when its driver stepped forward, saying:

“Thank yon, sir. I’ll ’low the critter pulled well, an’ I’ll take him in hand now.”

“Hold on, Mike!” exclaimed a man who had pushed himself forward from out of the crowd, leading a girl a dozen years old by the hand. “You will never have another chance to use that whip of yours on this horse while I own him. Call at my office and get the pay due you and find employment elsewhere. The man who abuses a dumb creature as you do cannot work for me. ”

The man moved back, exclaiming:

“I should like to see the man who can handle him enny better, Mr. Steele. ”

“We won’t have any words over the matter, Mike. I saw enough of your methods of managing a horse to show that you are not the kind of a driver I wish to employ. I was trying to get to you when this brave boy interfered. Go.” Without further words the discomfited mail slunk away, while the gentleman, whom Manly saw was well-dressed and evidently a person of wealth and consequence, turned to him, saying: “Young man, I wish to thank you for your kindly interference, and I assure you I appreciate your favor. Now if you will kindly drive the horse up in front of my office I will reward you handsomely. Here is my card.”

Without waiting for Manly’s reply the gentleman hastened away, still leading his little daughter by the hand. Somewhat puzzled by this action, our hero glanced at the bit of pasteboard to find engraved thereon:

“Rollin Steele,

banker,

801 Main St., Greenwich. ”

In a moment Manly recalled all lie had heard of this great railroad man and millionaire, with business interests all over the country, and a power wherever his interests were directed, and whose wonderful rise from a poor, bare-footed country boy up to his present position was like some story from the “Arabian Nights.”

Under the circumstances he could do no better than to drive the team to his place of business, as he had been requested, so he started at once.

Mr. Rollin Steele’s office proved in closer proximity than Manly had expected, so in a few minutes he found himself in front of the elegant granite block, all of which was utilized for his extended and varied business professional ventures, for this millionaire was possessed of wonderfully versatile gifts.

He was standing in the main doorway as Manly drove up, and he invited him in.

“I will send a man to look after the horse. I wish to speak with you just a moment. ”

As Manly jumped down from the high seat he saw an announcement over the door that was destined to change his whole course of action. The line read:

“Money in small and large amounts loaned here. ”

“I won’t detain you but a moment, young man,” said Mr. Steele, as he led the way into his private office, his daughter still with. him.

“It is so seldom I witness such a manly act as you have done to-day that I feel I should do you an injustice if I did not render some slight token of the service you did me by defending one of my horses. I never believed in the abuse of a dumb brute. Please be seated a moment.” Manly could do no better than obey, while the other turned to his desk and began to write. “Let’s see, your name, young man?”

“Manly Sterling, sir.”

“That has the right ring,” resuming his writing.

“I suppose you heard me scream,” said the little girl, as if anxious to open a conversation on her part. “I do hate to see a poor horse whipped in that way, and I was afraid Mike was going to strike you. Weren’t you afraid?”

It seemed to Manly he had never seen such a pretty, demure miss- as the fair speaker, and he hesitated in his reply, Mr. Steele saying in the midst of it:

“Here, please accept this, with my thanks. If you ever want a favor, do not hesitate to come to me.”

As he spoke he held out a check to Manly, which the latter saw at a glance was for one hundred dollars. But, his countenance swiftly changing color, he managed to stammer:

“I thank you, Mr. Steele, but I do not wish to take it. The taking of money for such a simple act of duty would seem to cheapen it.”

He had scarcely spoken when Mr. Steele tore the check in twain, and threw the pieces into the waste basket.

“Why, papa!” exclaimed his daughter, with a look of wonder, “what made you do that? Perhaps he would have taken it if you had urged him. ’’

“I don’t want to urge any one to break a good resolution, Bertie. That was the noblest speech I ever heard, and I don’t want to think it might have been broken. Give me your hand, Manly Sterling. ”

Somewhat taken aback by this impulsive treatment, Manly extended his right hand, which was clasped in a firm hold, while the banker said:

“I believe in first impulses and first impressions. They have always served me well. You don’t look like a fellow who would drive a team for a living or I would offer you a situation in place of the man I have just turned off. But if there is any favor I can do for you, do not be afraid to ask. It is the bold and aggressive that win.”

Though this speech was made in a frank and generous spirit, which was shown by the manner as well as the words of the speaker, it placed Manly in a trying situation, for he had no designs upon the other’s favor. And he was about to say so, when the announcement he had read over the door flashed through his mind— “Money in small and large amounts loaned here.” Perhaps this was his golden opportunity. Should he improve it or let it pass on account of the delicacy of the situation?

Manly Sterling hesitated but a moment before he broke the embarrassing suspense by saying:

“I neither ask nor expect reward for what I have done to-day; neither do I intend to take any advantage of your great generosity, but in the matter of business there is a favor you can do me.”

He was surprised at his calmness, once he had begun to speak, and he paused to note the effect of his words on the other, who quickly said:

“Name any favor you wish, Mr. Sterling.”

“It is the favor of a loan of ten thousand dollars.”

No sooner had he uttered the fateful request than he wished it unsaid. In a moment the whole demeanor of Mr. Steele underwent a change, and in place of the kindly, benevolent and humane gentleman of the instant before, stood before him the cold, calculating man of millions who knew no personal feeling which could compromise with his unswerving purpose, looking him sternly in the countenance.

CHAPTER XIV.

MR. STEELE’S REPLY.

“Why, papa, what has happened?” cried little Bertie Steele, who was the first to break the unhappy silence. “What makes you look so dreadful? You aren’t mad with this noble boy, are you?”

Mr. Steele’s countenance relaxed a trifle, as he gently took his little daughter upon his knee, while he said to Manly:

“Pardon me, young man, but it is possible I did not understand you.”

“Excuse me, sir, but the notice over the door of money to lend made me overbold perhaps in asking you for a loan of ten thousand dollars. I am in need of that amount just now.”

“That may be, but it is rather unusual for a boy to come in here and without any recommendation ask for so large an amount. What security have you to offer?”

Manly was forced to hesitate here, for he knew only too well that he had no first-class security to offer. He said, or began to say:

“If you know Mr. Hildreth of the firm of Hildreth &— ”

“I know him too well! He is not now good for one dollar, though last week I woald have been glad to have taken his name for twice the amount you named. Let me see, who are you anyway?”

“My father is Henry Sterling, and he lives at Orecroft.”

“Ah, I see! Senior member of the firm of Sterling & Grasp, ironmongers, but now gone to the wall. Those Grasps were enough to ran any man under. I got pinched a little by the old man. Sheriff Whitcomb described the situation of the concern to me only yesterday. Said he thought he should get possession in a few days. Seemed to think there was a patent partly perfected which might prove valuable some time. Whitcomb is a pretty sharp fellow. I understand the creditors are not going to get more than twenty-five cents. ”

‘‘ They won’t, sir, under Mr. Whitcomb’s management, I assure you. ”

“So you don’t like Mr. Whitcomb'? That is natural, I suppose; a sheriff isn’t apt to make any friends. I am glad to have met you, Mr. Sterling, and I hope you will come out all right. ”

At this point the banker turned back to examining his papers and Manly understood as well as if he had been told in so many words that the interview was at an end. He realized, too, that Mr. Whitcomb had prejudiced Mr. Steele against anything he might say. He would have left the office without saying anything more than “ Good day, sir, ” had not Bertie rushed impetuously to his side, and catching him by the hand, exclaimed:

“Don’t go until I have spoken to papa, please. ”

He found it hard to refuse so winsome a request, and while he stood a silent spectator, she flitted to her father, and throwing her arms around his neck, said:

“I think you are real naughty, papa, there! He seems so honest and he was so good to not let Mike beat Charley.”

“Tut—tut, Bertie! that is all well enough as far as it goes. But your little head can’t see the line between business and sentiment. I shall have to send you home if you are going to bother me with your childish notions.”

“Papa, couldn’t you give him ten thousand dollars and not miss it?”

“That isn’t a business question at all, my little teaser. But I might as well let you tell your story, Mr. Sterling, as to let the little girl occupy my spare time. I can give you fifteen minutes to say what you wish.”

“I won’t detain you as long as that, Mr.

Steele, and I wish to thank you for your kindness. ”

Then, in a few well chosen words, Manly told his story regarding the situation at Orecroft, without trying to make it appear any better than it was.

“I must say, Mr. Sterling,” said the banker, when he had finished, “that if you are as honest as you are frank and bold I would not hesitate to trust you. What did your father do before he started in the iron business, for as I understand you he has not been long in that.” “Less than five years, sir. Before that he was a brick-maker. ”

“He had great faith in his invention you think? Of course I need not ask that question, for all inventors are confident of grasping a fortune. Is it really near completion?”

“It is, Mr. Steele.”

“Do you think you could finish it?”

“I do, sir. Or if father should get well he could certainly.”

“You say this does not belong to the firm?”

“It does not, though Mr. Whitcomb claims that it does. ”

“I understand. But, if I understand, unless you can clear Matthew Grasp’s creditors you are going to lose. However, I wouldn’t advise you to give it up without a fight. There it is again. It takes money to fight money. If you had ten thousand dollars what would you do with it? ”

“I should pay those creditors who are clamoring for their money, keeping enough to run the business with until I could get off the big contract on hand. ”

“ Exactly. That might work if Hildreth was on his feet. As it is, I do not see as it would help you a particle. The fact is, according to your words, you have got to clear about twenty-five thousand dollars at once, and as much more at the end of the year, and you can’t offer any security that is worth a snap of the finger. Isn’t that about so?”

“In some respects, sir. But the stock is paid for to fill this contract for fifteen thousand dollars, and I calculate to clear at least ten thousand dollars on that, which, with the amount I want to borrow, will nearly pay the claims now due against the company, and I shall have nine months left before the mortgage becomes due to get something toward that. I can certainly pay the ten thousand dollars I have hired. The property is good security to raise the money to pay up the Grasp claim. I don't want to hire this money for less than a year."

“You get at it like an old hand. I suppose you have this invention in your mind all the time.”

“I am very confident, sir, that inside of six months I will have that so it will be in shape to command a price. If it is the success I believe it is going to be, it will soon pay every dollar of indebtedness against Sterling & Grasp and a handsome income for years to come. But I do not speak of this because I am depending on it to help me out of this trouble. I base every calculation on making the mills lift the burden. ”

“I like the way you size it up, hut it is a big burden for a boy to lift. I don’t want to dismiss you hastily, for your candor has deserved my consideration. I don’t think it would be a business-like policy for me to let you have the money to-day. If I conclude to let you have it I will telegraph you at Orecroft to-morrow at six o’clock in the afternoon. Meanwhile, if you can find any one to let you have it, don’t let the opportunity pass. Good day, Mr. Sterling. ”

CHAPTER XV.

A CRISIS IN AFFAIRS.

Feeling perliaps more than ever the hopelessness of his situation, Manlv went out of the banker’s office and hastened toward the home of the late Matthew Grasp.

He had never met Mrs. Grasp before, but he found her very pleasant, though nearly heartbroken over her recent afflictions. She had heard nothing from Leonard, and anxiously questioned Manly in regard to her son’s defalcations.

“I am sorry for your father, who is a good man, and I am sorry for you, as well as for myself and Leonard and all. It seems like a horrible dream, and I cannot think but that my son will come home yet and make it all right. It was not my teachings which caused him to do this. I am very glad you have so kindly come to see me, and I hope you will come often. Keep me posted, and if there is anything I can do I will do it. ”

So Manly’s visit to Greenwich was of no apparent good, and he could not help regretting that he had lost so much time at home which meant so much to him.

Just how much he did not realize until he had reached the mills, which he did a little before night, to find a half dozen men gathered about the office and talking in an animated manner.

Sheriff Whitcomb was among them, and Manly heard his loud voice saying:

“It is the only course you can pursue, Hawke, and I authorize you to go ahead and discharge the man. Perhaps that will bring him to his senses.”

“I shall appeal to Mr. Sterling as soon as— hilloa! Here he is now!”

It was Kent Knerl speaking, showing by his manner that he was laboring under great excitement.

“Manly Sterling, you haven’t come any too soon. These shameless robbers have been playing a high hand since you went away. ”

“What is it, Kent?”

“They have discharged me!”

“Discharged you? For what reason and under what authority?”

“For disobedience of duty, young man,” Whitcomb hastened to say, “and under my orders. If I am not boss here I should like to know who is. ”

“But you promised to give me time to fix up affairs so they could be run—”

“Fudge! an agreement made with a minor is of no consequence. Beside, what utter nonsense it is to fool away time and money with you when you know yourself you can not spin a thread. I have discharged this sniveling fool and I—”

“Be careful what you say, Clint Whitcomb!” broke in Knerl, who was trembling from head to foot, “or I shall forget that you are an officer. I can stand honorable treatment, but the worm will turn when— ”

“Hush, Kent,” interposed Manly, who could see that the sheriff was exulting over the outbreak he had aroused, and was only waiting for an excuse to resort to violent measures.

Unobserved by any of the little crowd of spectators in their excitement, a newcomer had appeared upon the scene, and stood listening to the animated, angry remarks, until a lull in the sharp conversation allowed him to say:

“Excuse me, gentlemen, but I am anxious to see the master of Orecroft iron mills, if he is handy. ”

With one accord every person turned an inquisitive gaze upon the speaker, who proved to be a stranger to all. He was a man of forty years of age, with clear-cut features, blue eyes, a skin browned by long work over the forges and furnaces of an iron mill, and a figure of medium size, but well knit and compactly built in every joint. In short, he looked like one who was not to be easily deterred from his purpose. He wore the plain suit of a workman, and its liberal coating of grease and grime showed that it had seen the best part of its service.

“I am an iron worker,” he continued, as the others hesitated to speak, “and I am looking for a job. I have good recommendations with me, ” pulling a soiled sheet of paper from an inner pocket as he finished speaking.

“I calculate I am as much master here as any one, ” declared Whitcomb. “ Who are you?”

“I am iron by trade, iron by business, iron by nature and iron by name—Nathan Irons, sir, at your service.”

“Pig iron, I should say,” said Whitcomb with a laugh. “I have just been turning off help instead of hiring.”

“I might take his place, sir,” replied Irons, respectfully.

“Ha, ha! that’s a good one. This man was boss over the entire works, Mr. Nathan Irons.’

“I don’t doubt it, sir. I have been boss where there have been more hands than you can possibly employ here. Is your name Sterling?”

“I hope not. No, sir; I am Sheriff Whitcomb, Mr. Irons.”

“Why I asked,” said Mr. Irons, showing no surprise at the officer’s words, “was from the fact that I was told to inquire for Manly Sterling, being master of the mills.”

“That youngster standing there is Mr. Sterling, ” replied the sheriff. “As to his being master, that is passed. If you want to go to work, step this way, so I can talk with you alone.” Mr. Irons obeyed, and he was in close conversation with the sheriff for fully half an hour. At the end of that time they rejoined the crowd, Sheriff Whitcomb saying to his keeper:

“I am pleased with Mr. Irons, and I have concluded to put him in charge to look after the men. If you find anything about him you do not like, report to me. You can begin your duties to-morrow, Mr. Irons.”

For the first time, then, Mr. Irons, the new boss, spoke to our hero.

“Mr. Whitcomb has explained the situation to me, Mr. Sterling, and I trust this arrangement will be agreeable to you.”

Feeling that for the time he had been outgeneraled, Manly said:

“I shall not object now, but if I bring about the adjustment of affairs as I expect, I shall not consider myself bound to retain you unless I think best. ”

“That’s fair. I shall endeavor to make myself so useful that you will want me permanently. ”

Manly was forced to confess that evening to his mother that he had lost ground during the day. He felt the loss of Kent Knerl more than he cared to show, but he seemed powerless to help himself. '

“ There is one thing certain: I can do nothing effectual until I get some money. Where I am going to get that I cannot tell. To-morrow is the last day of grace with me, and what makes it worse it is Saturday.”

“Mr. Steele was to let you know his decision to-morrow, I think you said.”

“Not until six o’clock. It won’t do for me to depend upon him. If Whitcomb would only let me keep the mills running I believe I could get a foothold. It is singular Mr. Hildreth has not been near me for two days. ”

The next day, one that Manly has never forgotten on account of the great crisis in affairs that it brought, found Nathan Irons, the new boss, promptly on hand, and he entered upon his duties with what seemed a good understanding of his situation.

He spoke quite friendly to Manly, but declared that certain changes were needed in order to get the best results, both as to quality and quantity of work.

Sheriff Whitcomb was also early at the mills, closeted with keeper Hawke.

The day dragged without any material change in the situation. Manly made no further attempt to borrow money, for there was no one he knew to ask. In the afternoon he got a short letter from Mr. Hildreth, which expressed regret at his inability to come and see him, but hoped he would be able to do so the first of the week.

Whitcomb seemed very much pleased with the new boss, and spent half of the afternoon with him consulting on one matter or another.

Mr. Fulton, came to the mills half an hour before his time to take charge for the night, when Sheriff Whitcomb motioned for him and Manly to come into the office.

As Manlv obeyed he saw Corning and two or three others drive into the yard. He felt that the crisis was near at hand.

“Well, Mr. Sterling,” began the officer, in his pompous, arrogant way, “the time you asked for is up. I would like to know if you are prepared to meet your creditors as you promised. ”

“Why need you ask that question, Mr. Whitcomb, when you know my situation? If you will only give me reasonable time I am sure — ”

“Do you take me for a fool, young man? I have parleyed with you beyond all reason. Either pay up your creditors, as you agreed, before six o ’clock, or I shall see that these mills are shut down at midnight. ”

The sheriff had barely finished speaking before the town clock began to strike the hour of six.

As the last sound died away Whitcomb exclaimed exultantly:

“That clears my skirts. Look here, Fulton, when the clock strikes twelve to-night do you see that every furnace fire is banked and all work is suspended. Business at Orecroft iron mills is over, until new hands are at the helm. Keep a sharp lookout here, David, but you need not bother about looking after Sterling’s private rooms, as I have ordered an extra man on duty there. I must leave you for a little while.”

CHAPTER XVI.

MANLY FINDS HIMSELF WITH MILLIONAIRES.

As Sheriff Whitcomb turned to leave, the place Manly felt a hand laid lightly on his shoulder, and heard a voice whisper in his ear:

“Some one outside wants to see you at once.” Thus, instead of replying to the officer, as he had intended to at first, the young master of the iron mills looked around to find Nathan Irons beside him.

“He says he cannot wait,” said the new boss in a low tone. “I did not ask him his name, but you had better not keep him waiting. You can’t mend matters by arguing with the sheriff. ” Manly realized this, and, wondering who it was wishing to see him, he pushed his way through the crowd and left the building.

Mr. Whitcomb was 'unhitching his horse and preparing to ride away, though our hero did not give him a second glance, as he saw another carriage drawn up a short distance away. He recognized the team as belonging to one of the local liverymen, but the occupant of the vehicle was not seen plainly enough to be recognized.

Anticipating that he was the one desiring to see him, Manly went that way, saying as he approached the carriage:

“Are you the gentleman who wishes to speak to me, sir?”

“Certainly, Mr. Sterling; jump right in here. I suppose you are surprised to see me here, hut I had a little matter I wanted to see Mr. Morgan about, so I thought I would see you at the same trip. ”

Manly’s astonishment may he imagined at finding himself in the presence of Rollin Steele, the millionaire banker.

In an instant the thought flashed through his mind:

“ He is going to let me have the money! ”

Murmuring his thanks and pleasure at meeting him thus unexpectedly, Manly took a seat beside the other, who immediately drove away in front of the sheriff. Not recognizing Mr. Steele, Mr. Whitcomb must have been very much surprised and puzzled to know who he was and what Manly’s departure with him meant.

“How are you getting along?” asked Mr. Steele.

“There is no light, sir. Sheriff Whitcomb has just ordered the mills to be shut down at midnight. ”

“As soon as that. Didn’t he promise Hildreth to wait until Mondav?”

“To-morrow being Sunday I suppose he acted sooner.”

“I see. I take it that is Whitcomb behind us?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I hope he did not recognize me. In fact, I didn’t care for any one about the premises to know me, so I asked the first person I saw to send you out. I telegraphed to Morgan to meet me at his office this evening, and we will go there at once.”

“I think you are very kind, Mr. Steele,” said Manly, not daring yet to broach the subject uppermost in his mind.

As they approached the bank it became evident that the sheriff was endeavoring to keep sight of them, though of course it may have * been purely an accident that he left his homeward direction to follow them.

“Well, I am not ashamed for him to know I am here,” said Mr. Steele. “You still think you can pull through with ten thousand dollars, Mr. Sterling?”

“Yes, sir, with the business prospect ahead.”

“I hope you will, for I have decided to let you have that amount. ”

The words, which meant so much to him, were spoken so carelessly that Manly could hardly credit his senses for a time. Before he could reply the banker stopped his horse in front of the bank building, saying:

“Here we are, and I believe I can see Morgan in there waiting for ns. If you will kindty hitch the horse, I will ascertain if such is the fact.”

At that moment Mr. Morgan opened the door, and while Sheriff Whitcomb, with his head thrust out of his carriage so he could see what was taking place, drove past, Manly followed the two millionaires into the bank with feelings that would be hard to describe.

The bank president showed his surprise upon seeing our hero with Mr. Steele, but he said nothing, merely bowing stiffly to the young master of the iron mills. In the little private office Mr. Parton was found awaiting them.

He came forward, and, after shaking hands with Mr. Steele, unhesitatingly offered' his hand to Manly.

“Glad to meet you and hope you are getting along well.”

“Before we proceed to the business between us, Morgan, I have a little matter I wish to conclude with Mr. Sterling. Excuse me. if I take this scrap of paper. ”

The banker then began to write hastily a common promissory note, saying, when he had finished:

“There, if you will sign that', Mr. Sterling, and Morgan and Parton will witness it, our business will soon be completed.”

With these words he laid a draft upon the table for an amount equal to that called for by the note.

Mr. Morgan glanced at both, and then he fairly gasped:

“What are you doing, Steele?”

“Simply trying to help the boy out of a corner. He has asked me for a loan of ten thousand dollars for one year, and I have concluded to grant it.”

“But what security do you get?”

“All that I ask—the two words comprising his name.”

“Are you in your right mind, Steele? Of course it is none of my business, hut we have a claim against Sterling & Grasp we should he happy to settle for twenty-five cents on a dollar.”

‘‘Which you will not be called upon to settle at such a sacrifice, Morgan. I don’t think I am noted for making bad investments, and I do not believe I am mistaken in regard to the capital of this young man’s courage and honest ability. If I am I ought to lose. I am willing to take my chances. I have noticed that it is not riches, it is not show, it is not activity, it is not even intellectual force which wins men prestige, but an inherent self-command, an unconscious undercurrent of firmness and foreordination in times that try the patience and power of men. He who commands the world first commands himself, with a title kings dare not dispute. Gentlemen, the strong man governs his opportunities; the weak man is governed by them.

“I have seen this young man improve opportunities which must have intimidated less bold, aggressive, manly spirits. I am going to test him now. Please sign the note as I have directed. ”

Without further delay Manly affixed his signature to the note as principal, while the president and cashier of Orecroft bank wrote their names as witnesses.

When this had been done, Mr. Steele held out his draft, saying:

“Here is what will bring you your money. Of course you can do as you think best, but it might be as well for you to let Mr. Morgan arrange it so you can get your money when you want it. Though it is out of regular hours of business, I have no doubt but he will fix it so you can have what money you want to use this evening without objection.”

CHAPTER XVII.

STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF MANLY’S FATHER.

“ Certainly, certainly, ” President Morgan hastened to say. “I shall he most happy to accommodate Mr. Sterling in any way I can.”

Manly was both surprised and pleased at the sudden change which had come over the pompous bank official. For the first time in many days he felt his old time buoyancy and that the load was lifted from his mind. Perhaps it was better for him not to understand then how securely the drag-net of cunning schemers had been thrown about him. His ignorance of this gave him a brief respite and a chance to gain strength for a renewal of the trying struggle for a supremacy.

“It might be a good thing for you to take Mr. Parton with yon, as I suppose you are anxious to unload your burden as soon as possible,”said Mr. Steele.

The cashier quickly signified his willingness to do anything he could, and Manly thanked both for their kindness. But as he started to leave the building, having first made arrangements to square the bank’s account the first thing Monday morning, Mr. Steele followed him to the door.

“I have one thing more to say to you, Manly Sterling, which I wished to say to you alone. While I have willingly done so much for yon, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not feel like letting you have another dollar, not even if you should come to me on your knees, and I knew that by doing it I should save myself from the loss of what I have loaned you. I

“ I frankly confess that I do this, not from a business standpoint, but from a whim, a caprice, an experiment. I want you to understand that you have got to rely on yourself hereafter, let come what may. I can tell you that there is more coming than you dream of. I thought it was no more than fair I should tell you this much, but I hope you will keep me posted as to your success. Good evening. ”

Expressing his thanks in a few feeling words, Manly soon found himself alone with Mr. Parton.

“I am at your service, Manly. I understand there are certain of your creditors you wish to pay. I suppose this will have to be done through Sheriff Whitcomb or the attornev of the creditors. Where shall we be likely to find him?” “He has gone home now, but he will be back to the mills soon, I think.”

“If we go to his house we shall be quite likely to miss him. I have it. Why not send to the principal creditors and have them meet us at your office this evening. It is short notice, but I think the most of them will be there. ’

“It is just the thing to do, and I will send word to them at once. I doubt if Mr. Hildreth can get here from Lancaster, his home,”

“If a dispatch is sent immediately he will get it in season to catch the nine o’clock express from Lancaster and get here by nine thirty. I will look after him and Earning, meeting you at your office as soon as I can get there. It is doubtful if we can get together before nine or nine thirty. You haven’t paid off the workmen this week?”

“No, sir. That is usually done about five o’clock. That is, the day help is paid then., and the night hands Monday afternoon. Mr. Irons knew how matters stood, and he told the men accordingly. ”

“ How did they take it? ”

“Some growled a little I understand, but on the whole they were good-natured. I think if Kent Knerl had been there no one would have complained.”

“Well, you will be prepared for them Monday. They should be thankful for that. But we mustn’t lose any more time.”

Manly had agreed to Mr. Parton’s suggestions and they separated at once to begin their tasks of notification, under ordinary circumstances this might not have been necessary, but he felt that he could not move too carefully with Sheriff Whitcomb against him. So far the officer had acted in a mysterious manner, at times being determined to push him to the wall, and yet he had allowed him an opportunity to act for himself. This he was aware was due to the intercession of Mr. Hildreth, who from some source had a certain influence over the other.

His mind was filled with conflicting thoughts, the one most often uppermost being that of the satisfaction of feeling that he had in a measure lifted the burden resting on his shoulders to an extent which he hoped would allow him a brief respite, if not permanent relief.

Manly had seen two or three of those whom he wished to be present at the meeting, when he was obliged to cross the river and pass near to his home in order to reach the next man.

The desire to see his mother and briefly in part to her the good news was too strong for him to resist, so he decided to call at his home.

He had not been to supper, but in the excitement of the occasion he had not thought of that.

He had got in sight of the house, which showed dimly in the evening darkness, when he discovered a woman coming rapidly toward him.

It did not require a second look for him to recognize his mother. She was bareheaded and her hasty steps told that she was impelled by some great excitement. She saw him almost as soon as he had seen her, when she rushed forward with outstretched arms, crying:

“0 Manly! Have you seen your father?” “No, mother; what has happened?”

“He has left the house! He must have been gone some time, and I cannot find a trace of him.”

“Don’t be alarmed, mother. He is doubtless near by. Has he appeared any different today?”

“No. But I am afraid he has thrown himself into the river. One of the neighbors saw him going that way nearly half an hour ago. What if he has drowned himself? ”

“Let us hope not, mother. I will help you in your search for him. First I want you to show me just where he was last seen.”

Mrs. Sterling at once started back toward the house, and when nearly opposite led the way down the rocky land sloping toward the river bank, which here overhung the water with a descent of nearly twenty feet.

It was too dark to discover any trace of the missing man, but Manly went down to the brink of the stream and shouted his father’s name. This was a short distance below the mills and the noise and confusion of the iron works with the incessant roar of the water-fall drowned his voice.

“If he fell off here he was killed outright,” he thought, starting back with a shudder. “I must have a light to continue the search. Please do not come any nearer, mother. It will do no good. ”

“Oh, your poor father, Manly! he has been killed!”

“Don’t lose courage. I must have a lantern before I can look any farther.”

“I will get you one in a minute.”

Manly followed his mother back to the road, stopping in front of the house until she could get the lantern.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE PURSUIT IN THE DARK.

Manly had not waited long for his mother before he heard footsteps of some one coming-up the road at a smart run, and he turned to meet the person with curiosity.

“Hilloa, Curly! is that you?” he asked, as he recognized the other. “What is the trouble now?”

“0 Master Manly! I am so glad to find you. I have just seen your father going over the bridge, and he was acting so strange.”

“ Which way did he seem to be going, Curly? ”

“Toward the mills. I did not know that he left the house.”

“This is the first time. Wait a moment until I can.get a lantern and we will go after him. ”

By this time Mrs. Sterling had procured a light, and as Manly took the lantern he said:

“Father has been seen, mother, so cheer up. He was going over the bridge toward the mills. I will soon get him home. Do you go into the house and wait until I come. Oh, mother! I must tell you that I have got the money to pay off the creditors and the prospect looks bright.”

“I am so glad, Manly. But hasten after your father.”

Without further delay Manly started down the road at a rapid gait, closely followed by Curly.

As they approached the mills Manly naturally turned his gaze in the direction of his father’s workshop, something seeming to tell him that he would find him there.

“It is the most reasonable place for us to look first,” he said, leading the way in that direction.

Save the rumbling of the machinery and the steady thunder in the distance of the tumbling river no sound fell on their ears as they drew near the dark walls of the building.

Suddenly Manly exclaimed in a low tone:

“The door is open! He is in there. Poor father! I suppose his mind—”

He had reached to within a short distance of the open door, when his feet had tripped over something in his pathway and he fell to the ground, breaking the glass globe of the lantern with a sharp crash.

Fortunately the light was not extinguished, and quickly regaining his feet he looked more closely upon the object which had caused his mishap.

The sight brought an exclamation of horror to his lips.

It was the prone figure of a man lying there as if dead!

He recognized him as the watchman Sheriff Whitcomb had put on guard over the apartment containing his father’s models and preparations of his new method of welding.

He had barely seen this when a gust of wind extinguished the light, leaving him and Curly in the dark.

Who had struck this man down at his very post of duty was the first question coming into his mind, and with the horrible realization that his father was in some way responsible for the deed he peered anxiously into the building.

It was too dark for him to see anything within, and not a sound came from the place.

“Father!” he called, receiving no response. Then he entered the room, stumbling over the things thrown promiscuously upon the floor, but he looked in vain for his father.

He was just coming out when Curly exclaimed:

“Look, Manly! I see him going toward the river. There, in that bar of light, you can see him quite plain. ”

Manly had caught sight of his father’s retreating form, and he started hastily in that direction, saying to Curly:

“Run up to the office and tell them Hartland has been hurt.”

If he thought at first to quickly overtake his father he soon found his mistake, for the other moved with a celerity he could hardly equal. But to his relief he soon saw that he was not seeking the river, but was following along the bank in the direction of the bridge.

Satisfied that his father was going toward the road where it reached the bridge, Manly at once turned to his right and in the direction of the roadway leading to the mills, thinking he should be able to intercept his parent before he had reached his objective point.

Though in the darkness he could make but indifferent progress over the uneven surface of the bank of the stream, it might have been better for him had he followed that course, for as he came back into the road he saw a man whom he quickly recognized as Crush Curlew coming that way.

The latter saw him at the same time, and he cried:

“ Hol ’ on there, boss; wot d ’ye mean by hol’in ’ back a feller’s wages? Stop, I say! ”

“I can’t now, Crush. I will see you—”

“I want my pay. Hol ’ on! ”

In his anxiety to overtake his father, Manly did not dare to stop to say more. But as he hurried ahead the angry ironworker followed as fast as his clumsy gait would allow.

The short pause had enabled Mr. Sterling to gain the bridge ahead of his pursuer, and he increased his flight now he had reached an easier course.

Manly was near enough to see that his father was carrying something in his arms, but feeling certain his destination was home, he did not follow as closely as he might otherwise have done, until, to his dismay, he saw him turn into a path leading down the stream.

Along this winding track Mr. Sterling went with rapid steps, in spite of the darkness and the burden he bore.

Manly now quickened his steps, while Crush Curlew followed upon his heels. At this moment wild, angry shouts came from the direction of the mills, and the young master knew that the stark form of Hartland had been discovered. He could not help wondering if his father had committed the act what the consequence would be.

But he was not given any time for speculation, for at that moment he suddenly discovered his father’s destination.

A dozen rods below the road and standing on the brink of the high rugged bank, overhanging the river, was an old, deserted building, which had been long unoccupied. Since it had been built a freshet of the stream had eaten away a portion of the river bank, so the lone structure stood on a island to be reached by crossing over a fallen tree, which had been thrown down by the same flood in such a manner that its roots remained on the mainland while its top rested on the island.

Manly had crossed this narrow bridge a few times with other boys, but had found it an extremely difficult and dangerous feat even by daylight. Now, as he saw his father evidently bent upon following the hazardous way, he bounded forward to stop him.

“Hi, there!” cried Curlew, “give me my wages,” and the half-drunken man tore madly ahead in the track of his intended victim.

“Stop, father!” cried Manly, hut to his dismay the other only increased his speed.

With a few swift bounds, nearly flung to the earth by some vines crossing his pathway, Manly reached the fallen tree just as his father stepped upon its slippery trunk and darted out over the yawning gulf.

At the same moment the strong hand of Crush Curlew fell on Manly’s shoulder, while he hissed in his ear:

“Give me my wages, b’y, or I’ll fling yer inter th ’ drink! ”

He tried in vain to shake off the other’s grasp, while he saw indistinctly in the night’s gloom his father tottering over the chasm.

CHAPTER XIX.

"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”

With his father tottering over the watery chasm and Crush Curlew holding him from going to his rescue, it was a critical moment with Manly. He, too, was in imminent danger of being hurled headlong into the dark abyss yawning at his feet.

"Release me, Curlew,” he said. "I will explain all to you in a moment.”

“ ’Splain, will yer? ’Splain now. Er bird in th’ hand is wuth er whole flock in th’ bush— ’splain! ”

But Manly was in no mood to trifle with the unreasoning man, and giving a sudden twitch he sent him reeling backward to the earth.

Then, before the other could rally, he darted along the ronnding track afforded by the fallen tree.

The brief delay in his pursuit, however, had allowed his father opportunity to reach the island, and he stood at the entrance of the ruined building as Manly gained the bank.

For the first time our hero was near enough to distinguish the objects in his parent’s arms, and he saw to his amazement that he held some of the models of his invention.

He had barely made this discovery when a sharp yell from Curlew reached his ears, quickly followed bv others of a heart-rending nature.

He soon found that the ironworker had attempted to follow him, but slipping and falling, he then hung above the chasm by clinging to the tree for support. His situation was extremely precarious, and the least relaxation of his hold would cause him to he precipitated headfirst into the depths.

Feeling that his father was safe for a few moments, Manly lost no time in retracing his course over the narrow bridge until he had reached Crush Curlew, who was still calling loudly for help.

“Hold on a moment, and I will try and get you to safety,” and Manly, taking hold of the man’s shoulder and beginning to raise him up.

“Hilloa! What’s up here?” called out the sharp voice of Sheriff Whitcomb, near at hand, attracted to the place by the cries of the frightened Curlew.

“Help!” replied Manly. “Curlew has fallen on the tree in trying to cross to the island. He is so heavy I can hardly lift him, standing in this treacherous position.”

Whitcomb and two or three others immediately reached the spot to lend their strength toward the rescue of the imperiled Curlew.

“I should like to know what is going on,” demanded the officer, sharply. “I found Hartland nearly killed at his post, and followed after you. What have you been doing?”

“Nothing out of the way, sir. Father has run away, and I was trying to get him to return to the honse. ”

“Is that him over there?” asked Whitcomb, seeing Mr. Sterling for the first time.

“Yes, sir.”

“What is he doing down here? I thought he was crazy and helpless.”

“He is not in his right mind, Mr. Whitcomb. If you will look after Curlew I will get father home. ”

“I have an idea I have an interest in your father’s actions. The rest of you look after this fool, who doesn’t seem to be hurt, and I will go with the boy.”

As much as Manly disliked to have the sheriff’s company, he could not escape his companionship then, and with him following closely behind he crossed over the tree bridge for the second time.

His father still stood in the doorway of the old building, with the models in his arms, as the two approached him, though he paid no attention to them.

“Look here, man,” greeted the officer, “what are you doing down here?” Then, as he saw what the hunted man held in his arms, he exclaimed:

“Hilloa! I see through your game. Stealing away the property from the mills. Ha! I understand it all now. It was you who killed Hart-land to get him out of your way!”

Manly felt a thrill of dread at this exclamation of Sheriff Whitcomb, and he realized the threatening aspect of his father’s situation.

The officer, as he spoke, started hastily toward the trembling man, when Manly stepped between them, saying:

“ Don’t be unreasonable with poor father. I I will get him home. He is not responsible for what he does.”

“Responsible? I’ll make somebody responsible for all this. He has about killed Hartland, and here he is carrying away property belonging to others.”

Manly did not reply to this speech, but taking his father by the arm, removed the models from his grasp, he offering no opposition, somewhat to the surprise of both himself and Whitcomb.

“I will take charge of these,” said the sheriff.

“You will take them back where they belong, sir?” asked Manly, releasing his hold on his father to face the sheriff.

“Yes—yes, for the present. Here, Styles and Landers, help the boy get his father over the fallen tree.”

The men quickly lent their assistance, and in a few minutes all had safely returned to the river bank.

Crush Curlew had arisen, and was sullenly looking upon the scene.

Then, the three leading Mr. Sterling, who made no resistance, and Sheriff Whitcomb following behind them, with Curlew bringing up the rear, the little party proceeded along the pathway until the road was reached.

“Styles,” said Whitcomb, as they paused here, “do you go to the house with young Sterling and his father, and do you remain there until I call. Upon the peril of your life do not let the old man get out of your sight for a moment. I must return to the mills to complete my work there. I can’t tell just yet what to do with this man, who is evidently playing a part.”

To this Manly made no reply, hut kept along by the side of his father until the house was reached. There they found Mrs. Sterling anxiously looking for her husband.

“Where was he, Manly, and what has happened?”

“He had wandered down the river to the old building on the island, mother, but he is not hurt. We will get him into the house, and then I must go back to the mills for a short time. Mr. Styles here thinks best to remain with ‘him, though I do not believe it is necessary.”

Manly did not have the courage to tell the full particulars of affairs, even if he had had the time, which he felt he did not. He realized that his presence was needed at the mills at that very moment.

“Kindly stay with father and mother until I return. I will not be gone longer than I can help, mother, and do not he alarmed. At last I see my way clear.”

With these hasty words he ran out of the house and toward the mills, feeling that every moment meant much to him.

Upon reaching the yard in front of the office, he could see that the room was filled with men, while two or three horses were hitched near by.

CHAPTER XX.

SETTLING UP.

Mr. Parton was standing just outside the door, anxiously looking for Manly, as he reached the place.

“I was afraid you were not coming,’’ greeted the latter. “Whitcomb is carrying a high hand. What is it I hear about your father and Hartland!”

“Is Mr. Hartland killed!”

“No; he will come out all right. But did your father assault him!”

“I do not know that he did. Have the men all come!”

“Yes, excepting Hildreth, and I am looking for him every moment. I just heard the train whistle. He can’t be far away. Let’s get to business as soon as we can, for they all think they have been miserably hoaxed. ”

At this moment the sheriff pushed his burly form through the crowd and faced Manly, asking:

“What is this I hear about paying off the creditors of Sterling & Grasp?”

“I am prepared to settle with a portion of them, sir, and to make what I believe will be satisfactory terms with the others.”

“ So that is your scheme, is it? The only satisfactory terms I know of will be cash. Have you fifty thousand dollars, young man, to clear this all away? ”

“No, sir; neither do I understand I need to have. I am prepared to tender payment to those of the creditors who have desired prompt settlement. ”

“Who, pray, are the favored ones?”

“I can pay Mr. Corning in full, Mr. Bronson’s check with costs, Cutter, Welch & Co. in full, Earning, Dewing & Dunn in part—”

“Hold right on there, Mr. Sterling. We might just as well save this breath. If you have got fifty thousand dollars I am ready to talk with you. If you have one dollar less it is useless for you to whimper around in this manner.”

Sheriff Whitcomb spoke like a man who felt sure of his position. The spectators, who had been conversing among themselves in an excited manner, suddenly became quiet, looking from the speaker to the young master of the iron mills, and then back to the unflinching officer. It had been noised about that Mr. Sterling had singularly aroused from his lethargy, and after trying to kill one of the keepers, attempted to carry away some of the property. Of course the account had been distorted by each teller, until it had put our hero and his father in a most unfavorable light.

Manly appeared calmer than could have been expected, and he answered the officer in a clear, ringing voice, which was plainly heard by every person present.

“You may have authority for all that you say, Mr. Whitcomb, but I want to believe that justice will be done in this matter. I am prepared to pay every man who says be wishes his money, excepting the Grasp mortgage, and that I will be ready to meet at the end of the year of redemption.”

This ringing reply brought forth a cheer from the onlookers, when the sheriff turned pale and muttered a bitter malediction under bis breath. Aloud be said:

“I have fixed this mortgage business and done what was for the best for my clients. I have foreclosed, and shall post a notice at once for a sheriff’s sale in two weeks. Now, what are you going to do about—”

“Hold on, Mr. "Whitcomb!” broke in the voice of a newcomer—a voice very well known to the majority, who recognized Mr. Hildreth, who had appeared upon the scene in season to hear the officer’s remarks. “Mr. Gardner here will inform you that the mortgage is no longer in your hands. ”

Then, while the sheriff listened with mingled looks of surprise and anger, a stranger who had come with’ Mr. Hildreth said:

“Yes, Whitcomb, we have found some one who has taken the mortgage off our hands, so you need do nothing more about it. We will pay whatever expense it has been. We were very glad to unload. ”

It seemed a long time before Sheriff Whitcomb found speech to reply.

Mr. Hildreth pressed forward to Manly’s side and gave his hand a vigorous shaking.

“It’s coming out all right, and I am glad of it.”

“Who has taken up the mortgage?” demanded Whitcomb.

“He does not wish his name to be drawn into the matter, but as long as he has advanced the money to the creditors of Matthew Grasp we do not care who he is. ”

“Mighty funny!” muttered the officer. “I never knew anything of the kind. ”

Mr. Whitcomb was laboring under a fearful strain of suppressed excitement, which Mr. Hildreth enjoyed exceedingly.

“Now for business,” said Mr. Parton. “I suppose you wish to pay off the creditors at once, Mr. Sterling?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Manly, with a ring of triumph in his voice he could not well conceal. “I am glad to say I have money to pay the most of you. Mr. Corning, I should be glad to take up your note. ”

“Whitcomb has it, but I shall be glad to get the money. There was a mistake of twenty cents from what Whitcomb reckoned the interest. I suppose you will rectify all mistakes. ”

“Mr. Parton will see to that.”

Then, while the latter demanded the note of the sheriff, who reluctantly gave it up, our hero said:

“Now, Mr. Bronson, I would like to pay up that check. ”

It would be difficult to describe the looks on one and all as Manly continued speaking and showed that he meant what he said.

“Certainly,” said Mr. Bronson, “I am glad you can for your sake.”

While Mr. Parton adjusted the matter of the check, Manly gave his attention to those who held claims of varying amounts against Sterling & Grasp, until every one had been paid.

Then he turned to Earning, Dewing & Dunn's representatives, saying:

“I find that I have a little money left. Isn't that so, Mr. Parton?”

“Yes, sir; a handsome balance.''

“I can pay you.”

“Don't want a cent, Mr. Sterling, unless you insist upon paying it. ”

“Your firm, Mr. Cutter, has a claim for a little over eight hundred dollars. I do not suppose you will object to the money.”

“No, sir; though I leave it with you.''

“Give him a check, Mr. Parton. If there is another man here who has a claim against Sterling & Grasp I wish he would step forward.” Not a man moved or spoke.

“I will see you, Mr. Earning, the first of the week, if that will he satisfactory. If you are not particular for the money to-night it will give me time to get matters straightened out a little better. ”

“That is perfectly satisfactory, Mr. Sterling, and I hope you will allow me to congratulate you on the handsome manner in which you have met the difficulty and come out. You have shown yourself equal to the occasion, and every man of us ought to thank you. I wish you success.”

Mr. Earning spoke very feelingly, and he was followed by another cheer. Sheriff Whitcomb improved the opportunity to retreat, and he was not seen that night again.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE HAWK SHOWS ITS CLAWS.

No one felt in better spirits, Manly not excepted, than Mr. Hildreth, who caught the young master’s hand and held on until it seemed he was never going to let go.

“This shows you have got some friends, Manly. You are all right now. ”

“I wish to thank you all,” said Manly. “I am hopeful that business will continue without any break. The help will all be paid Monday morning. ”

“I don’t see as you need me any more,” declared Mr. Parton. “ Good evening. ”

“I will call at the bank Monday morning; good evening.”

The crowd at once began to disperse, though Mr. Hildreth remained with Manly. David Hawke was another who showed no signs of going. He had kept in the background, and now he sulked in the corner. The truth was the sheriff had left without informing him of his intentions, and he was at a loss to know what to do. If Manly Sterling had paid the firm’s indebtedness, had he any further business there? He resolved to remain.

Hartland had gone away, groaning over his injuries and vowing vengeance.

As soon as he was alone with Mr. Hildreth and they were on their way to our hero’s home, he said:

“Now if you want some money—”

“Tut—tut, my young friend; don’t speak of that. Hildreth & Hildreth may be in a corner for the time being, but they aren’t so hard up that you need feel obliged to pay the little owing them. If I am not mistaken, you will need every dollar you have got and as much more before you get through. Why, your running expenses can’t be much less than a thousand a week.” “Not much less, that is true, sir. The help must be paid promptly.”

“That is so. But there is another matter of which I wish to put you on your guard. Though it looks so just now, you have not got rid of Whitcomb, and he is coming at you in worse shape than before. He is trying to get appointed administrator of the estate of the late Matthew Grasp, and also manager of Leonard Grasp’s interest at Orecroft. He will get the appointments, too. Still I do not doubt your ability to meet him squarely in whatever attack he makes. You see, he is going to take this defeat very much to heart, and you have fairly outgeneraled him in the first battle. He expected just as much as could be to get the mills into his hands for a song.”

“And father’s invention, too.”

“Just so. But I want to ask if your father took out a patent?”

“Oh, yes; and he got so far that he had applied for one on an improvement.”

“Now, you have got over this snarl, you will see if you cannot finish it?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Hildreth stayed until nearly midnight talking with Manly before he went to. his stopping place for the night, and both Manly and his mother felt in better spirits than they had since the ordeal had begun. There was no particular change in Mr. Sterling’s condition.

Monday morning Manly was promptly on hand at the mills, his first duty being the paying off of his help, which gave great satisfaction to the men. When he had done this Nathan Irons came forward, saying:

“I suppose I must relinquish my situation, Mr. Sterling, but if I cannot be boss I suppose you will let me become a common workhand?” “Certainly, sir. Under the circumstances I feel that I ought to reinstate Mr. Knerl as foreman, but you shall have a position next to him.” Manly was pleased to find that this was satisfactory to the other, who went willingly about his new duties at once.

Kent Knerl was pleased to be given his old situation, and altogether affairs started off Monday morning with good prospects for the week. Only one thing now troubled Manly, and that was the presence of David Hawke, who showed no intentions of leaving. In fact, as soon as he became aware that Nathan Irons’ place had been taken by another he rushed up to the young master, exclaiming:

“How’s this that that Knerl is put in the place of Whitcomb’s man? I order you to restore our man to his proper position.”

“Mr. Irons is very well satisfied with his position, sir, and I had ample authority to make the change.”

Leaving the keeper fuming and fretting, he went to the bank, where he was received most cordially. Even Mr. Morgan came forward and congratulated him on his good fortune.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” thought Manly, “how a fellow is getting along with such men as he. Three days ago, when I needed friends, he would not have deigned to even look at me, and now, when I am more independent, he acts as if he would eat me up.”

Of course he did not show what was in his mind by his actions, and as soon as he had settled his account with the bank and found himself with a good margin to his credit, he went back to the mills.

A surprise awaited him there. His father had left the house and was in his private workshop seated on his bench, looking about with a vacant stare. The models had all been brought back and were in their old places.

Manly was wondering what he should do, when old Dr. Wise drove up to the door.

The physician seemed not displeased at this turn in the actions of his patient.

“Better humor him. If he wants to come here every day, let him. It would be a good idea if you could be near, or have some one else to keep a watch over him. ”

“ To-morrow I mean to begin to experiment on his invention,” said Manly.

“The best thing you can do. It will serve to get his attention if anything will. I see nothing that would indicate a change for the worse. ” That afternoon, finding he could be spared about the mills, Manly commenced his work on the new process of welding, his father looking on in a listless sort of way, while David Hawke came and seated himself in the doorway, maintaining a ceaseless vigil over him.

This unwelcome presence of the other was, Manly’s greatest drawback, and he resolved to settle matters with him at once. Accordingly he laid aside the tools he was using, and, approaching the intruder, he said:

“I would like to know, Mr. Hawke, by what authority you continue your watch over every movement of mine, and why you do not go away. You know very well that I settled up all accounts Saturday evening, and your duty here is ended.”

“Haven’t known of my being discharged, have you?” asked the other insolently.

“It is time you were discharged, and I wish to warn you off of these premises. Mr. Whitcomb has no longer any authority here, and I wish to be rid of your presence. ”

“ Lay so much as a finger on me if you dare, young man,” said Hawke, advancing, “and I’ll complain of you. Remember I have the law to back me.”

Manly was exasperated by the other’s insulting manner, and he took a quick step forward, when suddenly, with a low exclamation of fear, David Hawke stooped, and scraping up a handful of soot and dirt from the floor, dashed it into his face before he could protect himself.

CHAPTER XXII.

WHITCOMB HAS AN INNING.

His eyes filled with the fine particles of soot and dirt caught up from the floor and thrown into his face by Hawke, before Manly could act he was forced to brush the cloud of dust away, and as he did so a loud peal of laughter rang in his ears.

He knew it was not Hawke’s voice, and when he had got his vision clear enough to look about him he saw Sheriff Whitcomb standing in the doorway.

Naturally one is prone to resent an insult and injury by retaliating with blows, and the young master’s first impulse was to give his assailant such a sounding thwack with his fist as would send him flat upon his- back. His fist clinched and his arm was half raised for the blow, when happily some, more prudent thoughts came into his mind.

The action of Hawke and the taunting laugh of the sheriff told him plainer than words that both were only too eager to get him to so far forget himself as to begin an assault.

As he hesitated, trembling from head to foot, but gaining calmness and confidence every moment, Whitcomb said:

“Why don’t you show him that you ain’t afraid of him? He ain’t any bigger than you and not half as spry.”

“I don’t wish to be mixed up in any quarrel with such as he, ” retorted Manly.

“Bah! that’s always a coward’s excuse. I think if a fellow had filled my face and eyes as he has yours I would see what I could do. ”

“He insulted and abused me or I should not have done it,” said Hawke.

“I don’t doubt it. He is insolent enough. What did he do? ”

“He ordered me off the premises.”

“Did he dare do that, the puppy? So you have your high hand up, eh, Manly Sterling!” Manly had turned to wash his face and hands from a basin near at hand, and he did not offer to reply.

“I suppose you thought you had got rid of me,” continued the officer, “but I would have you understand that I am not so easily shaken off. I want you to understand that I did not put all of my eggs into one basket. I have got a right here now you can’t challenge. Read that. ”

As Sheriff Whitcomb spoke he handed out an official-looking document which Manly saw was his appointment as administrator over the estate of the Grasps.

“ It is not only the business of Matthew Grasp put into my hands, but I am empowered to look after the interests of his son Leonard. ”

After waiting to see what effect these words would have, and finding that Manly was not inclined to reply, he resumed:

“So you see, your high-handed way of carrying affairs must come to an end. I am as much in control here now as you.”

Mr. Hildreth had prepared our hero for this, so he was not as much surprised as the scheming officer would like to have seen him.

“Well, what are you going to do about it?” he asked, with provoking coolness.

“ Going to do? Why, I am going to have my say in running the business. It can’t be all as you say after this. I have as much power here as you. ”

“You may not be aware, or if so, you may have forgotten, that Mr. Leonard Grasp did not have an interest here equal to father’s. ”

The look which came over Whitcomb’s countenance made Manly smile in spite of his efforts to appear unconcerned.

“Not equal? What do you mean?’’

“I mean that where father had three dollars here he had only one dollar. He had only a quarter interest.”

“I believe you lie, young man, but until I find out the difference I shall not believe it. ”

“That won’t change the situation, sir, a whit. ”

Whitcomb muttered over something under his breath, which Manlv did not hear.

“The first thing I want to tell yon,” said Hawke, feeling it was time for him to say something, “is that this young upstart has ousted our boss and put in his old chummy. I warned him not to do it, but he went ahead and did it. ”

“Has he dared to put Irons out?” cried Whitcomb.

“Yes, sir.”

“ Then the first thing I do will be to put him back. Is Irons about the premises?”

“He’s among the workmen.”

“ Go find him and send him here. ”

When Hawke started on his errand the sheriff again faced Manly, saying:

“We want to start fair and with a good understanding, young man. ”

As Manly made no reply he continued:

“ In the first place I want Irons for day foreman; You may have the choice of the man on at night. I shall let Hawke remain to look after my interest, and it might he well for him to keep the books. I shall insist on this. I think the best thing you can do will be to give your whole attention to working on that invention. If you can make it work, and there is anything in it, we may be able to square up accounts this year. How much money did you get of Steele! ” “I got.it on my own account, sir, so it does not matter to you,” replied Manly, who was trying to decide on the best course to follow.

“Mighty independent, young man. So I understand you give it to the firm, and the company is not in any way liable for it?”

“The books will show, Mr. Whitcomb, just how much and where I have paid out money, and I shall hold the company accountable for every dollar. ”

“Well, you needn’t be so uppish about it. Halloa! Here comes Mr. Irons.”

The sheriff turned to advance toward the ironworker, leaving our hero to himself.

Manly felt a righteous indignation at this action on the part of Whitcomb, and his first thought was to defy the other and challenge his authority. But calmer second thought caused him to act differently, though it might seem the weaker course.

The first thing he did was to find Curly, saying to him:

“From this time on I want you to devote all of your time and attention to watching father and the model in his workshop when I am not there. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times. ”

“So I will.”

Manly next sought Kent Knerl, quickly explaining the situation to him. The latter showed great surprise and indignation when apprized of the new move on the part of Sheriff Whitcomb.

“Why don’t you get an officer and have him pulled off the premises, and that contemptible Hawke with him? ”

“That is easier said than done, Kent. His commission seems indisputable. No, Kent, I cannot do it without making bad matters even worse. You will do a favor for me?”

“ Certainly. ”

“Then you will not think I have turned against you if I allow another to be put in the place you now occupy? ”

“No. But I see that Whitcomb wants that Irons back again?”

“ Yes. ”

“ If you can gain anything by letting him have his way, let him do it. I would not be a boss under him and that Hawke under any circumstances. ”

So it came about that Nathan Irons was reinstated as day boss in Orecroft iron mills.

CHAPTER XXIII.

“A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK.”

Sheriff Whitcomb felt elated over Manly’s apparent willing consent to have Irons made foreman again.

“We shall get along famously, I know we shall.” he said. “Now you need not let the affairs of the mills interfere with your experiments a bit. The rest of us will look after the works. ”

If the young master made no reply to this it was not because his mind was not busy. In his heart he was determined that the unprincipled sheriff should not outwit him in the end. But he had yet to learn how uncomfortable the other and his willing tools could make his situation.

The following day, when Whitcomb came to the mills, he was accompanied by a youth a year or two older than Manly, and though a little taller, no heavier. The sheriff introduced him as his son, saying:

“I thought he might be of some help to you, Manly. He can help lift the bars of iron and wait and tend on you in place of that foolish boy I have seen round here.”

“No one can take the place of Curly, sir, and when you speak of him as foolish you—”

“Excuse me,” the other interrupted. “I meant no offense. As he never seems to be doing anything I naturally thought him incapable of work. But the more help the merrier and easier for you.”

Whitcomb spoke and acted with uncommon friendliness, and Manly knew he had some object in view. What it was he was not kept in suspense long.

“I have been thinking, Manly, that as you have put some money in the concern, and at a time when it was very much needed, that it might be well enough for us to sort of fix the matter up and have a good understanding before the matter becomes too old. How would it do for you to take a note from the company for what you have put in?”

“I consider that my account will hold, Mr. "Whitcomb. ”

“ Certainly, certainly, but I thought you might care to have it fixed a little stronger. There is still considerable to pay out, as I understand it. Then there is the matter of that patent. How would it do for us to draw up a paper showing just how that stands. Of course I am willing to do what is right. If you will kindly help me to make- out the proper papers I will guarantee to do all I can toward raising the money to lift the company’s debt. Of course neither you nor I want this business to drag along for the want of sufficient funds.”

Though Manly was prepared to expect almost anything from the wily sheriff, this was so bold and open a proposition that he was for a moment unable to reply.

“I don’t know what you may call ‘proper papers,”

Mr. Whitcomb, but I cannot see that any papers are needed as far as father’s invention is concerned. For the last time I wish to tell you that this is a matter which the company has nothing to do with. ”

‘‘How is it then that he before you, and you now occupy quarters in the mills?”

“Simply as tenants, sir. Father always paid rent here and for the power he used. I am willing to do the same.”

“A mere trifle. Irons tells me we need the room. They are cramped for space in the lathe department, and if the partition was taken away it could be all made into one room.”

“There never was any complaint, and I am sure we are not doing as much in that part of the mills as we have at some times in the past.” “So you refuse to make fair acknowledgment to the company, and refuse to get out? ”

“I would get out cheerfully, Mr. Whitcomb, but it would make me considerable trouble and cost, when I shall not in all likelihood stay here much longer. I do not think it is called for that I should move now. ”

“So that patent is nearly finished?” said Whitcomb, and without saying more he left the place, though his son remained.

Manly was too busy to give much thought or attention to his surroundings, but the presence of young Whitcomb, whose given name proved to be Silas, was far from being desirable. He understood that he had been put there by his father as a spy over his work.

Curly had been allowed to bring as much korl as he wished into the shop, and he occupied his spare moments in carving out his images, he being at work then upon the figure of the new boss, Nathan Irons, for whom he had conceived a strong liking. Though he had said nothing of it to Manly, whom he felt was, having trouble enough of his own, Curly‘was having a most unhappy period of existence at home. In addition to the ill-treatment of his father arising from his excessive drinking, his mother had become more and more antagonistic to him. It was only when he was occupied over his favorite task that he forgot his troubles and was happy.

It will thus be seen that it was a singular quartet which occupied the little workshop from early morning until dark—Manly Sterling, under the cloud of his great anxiety, completely absorbed with his experiments, which meant so much to him and his parents; Curly, as fully engrossed over his work as if he were not merely making the dumb figures of men, but were carving their fortunes; Silas Whitcomb, moving to and fro, peering into everything and watching his companions as a cat watches a mouse; Mr. Sterling, sitting silently by, looking upon it all with eyes that did not see and a mind unable to comprehend.

Sheriff Whitcomb came and went from day to day, Irons flitted in and out, while David Hawke occasionally stole in with a catlike look on his weazen features, until a little incident occurred which suddenly ruffled the surface of the scene.

Silas Whitcomb had been making himself more than commonly obnoxious during all the forenoon, and in the afternoon, while Curly was busily at work on the features of his block of korl, he took the knife from the young sculptor ’s hand, saying:

“ Let me make the nose a little better. There’s a hump on this side — ”

“No—don’t!” cried Curly. “You’ll spoil it.”

“I’ll show you that you ain’t the only one who can chip such a face out, ” said Silas, pushing Curly aside and beginning to cut at the korl in a way which showed that he was bent on destroying the whole.

The truth was young Whitcomb had been seeking for an opportunity to show his authority, but there was that about Manly, which warned him from picking a quarrel with him. He felt he had found his grand opportunity now.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MANLY’S INDEPENDENCE — CURLY FINDS HIMSELF IN A HARD PLACE.

Silas Whitcomb felt more bold to interfere with Curly for the reason that Manly had stepped out and was not expected back for an hour or more. '

That the young sculptor realized his disadvantage and inability to cope successfully with his enemy, who was considerable larger and stronger than he, was evident from his frightened looks, not less than his despairing words:

“Oh, don’t, sir! I—”

A shadow at that moment falling upon the floor caused both the boys to glance hurriedly toward the door, when they saw Mr. Whitcomb standing there.

Seeing that it was his father, Silas Whitcomb returned to his mischievous work, while Curly cried:

“0 sir! please don’t let him spoil my work.”

“Look out for your useless stuff yourself,” replied the sheriff, who, seeing with pleasure that Manly was not in, gladly improved the opportunity to begin an examination of the young ironworker’s models.

“Yes,” said the young tormentor, getting courage from his father’s words, “if you want to save your old mummy, pull me off. As for me, I am going to see what I can do. If I can’t make a better nose than— ”

Curly, in his desperation, caught him by the sleeve and pulled him until he was flung headlong into the corner of the shop upon a pile of old iron.

Smarting from the wounds he had received, the boy sculptor quickly sprang to his feet and returned to the side of the other, who was in the act of ruining what had cost him days of hard labor to do.

Again Curly caught young Whitcomb by the sleeve and again the other tried to fling him off, but this time the desperate boy cling with a hold that he could not easily loosen.

“Let go, you little rat!” cried Silas Whitcomb, maddened by the thought that he should be interfered with in his mischievous meddling. But the more he tried to throw the other off the closer he clung, until in his furious efforts Silas stumbled over a pile of iron and fell flat in the midst of a lot of rubbish Manly had collected in a pile to throw out of the room.

Curly may have been weaker than his assailant, but he made up for this in his quicker motions, and no sooner had he got his enemy down than he was astride his neck.

“Promise you won’t—”

“Oh, get out, you eel!” sputtered Silas. “You’re breaking my neck! O—O—-Oh! father! pull him off!”

Absorbed in his hurried survey of Manly’s work, Mr. Whitcomb had not paid any heed to the boys, until the frantic cry of his son caused t him to glance toward them, when he cried:

“ Here, you ragamuffin! Get off my son! ”

But Curly was too much occupied with his endeavours to hold his victim down to notice any one else, and seeing that no attention was paid to his words, the sheriff caught him rudely by the collar and lifted him bodily from his son.

“I'll fling you out of here as I would a puppy, and if you dare to come back I will throw you out again. I have borne with you here as long as I—”

“ Put down that boy, Mr. Whitcomb! ” cried the ringing voice of Manly Sterling, who appeared at this moment upon the scene. “Put him down, I say.”

Whitcomb did drop Curly, but he demanded angrily:

“What business is it of yours if I do not, Manly Sterling? This young reprobate has stayed here as long as he is going to.”

The words aroused the fire of Manly’s nature. Though he did not know what started the trou ble be had faith enough in Curly, for whom he felt a strong friendship, .to believe that it had been thrust upon him. He spoke calmly enough, but even the sheriff could see in his excitement that every word bore an underlying firmness not to be overlooked.

“ Lay your hand on that boy again, Mr. Whitcomb, and you will suffer for it. ”

“You seem to forget my official position, young man,” said the officer, sternly, trying to look the brave youth in the eye, but failing miserably.

“I wish I could forget that you are anything but an honor to it, sir. Curly, what has happened? ”

Seeing the likely outcome of the matter, and feeling sorry that he had been its cause, the young sculptor tried to smooth the matter over as much as possible, and Whitcomb tried to interrupt him, when Manly commanded him to be silent.

‘ ‘ I suppose you think you are supreme here, ” sneered the sheriff.

“I am so far master here that I order you and your son to leave the place at once, and if you dare to cross the threshold again I will have you thrown out. I see that you have been meddling with my work; begone, sir.”

Whitcomb wanted to reply, for a moment was evidently considering what his chances would be if he objected, then he sullenly went out, muttering:

“I shall report you to Irons, young man.”

Silas Whitcomb followed his father.

“ There, when I go out again, I will lock the door. I have borne with meddling as long as I can and will. ”

“I am sorry if I have caused the trouble,” said Curly.

“Don’t think of that. It has been coming for some time. Clinton Whitcomb may have the power to interfere with affairs in the mills, but he has no business here.”

If he had ever felt it, he now knew there was no hope of an amicable settlement with the other, but he did not let that trouble him. Soon after the sheriff’s departure. Nathan Irons came into the shop, asking Manly what had arisen between him and Whitcomb, when our hero related what had happened.

“I am afraid you went too far,” replied the boss, “but you seem to be on your own ground here. I am sorry you have done anything to embitter Mr. Whitcomb against you. It will make it so much worse with you in getting a settlement.”

“I hardly think I have made it any worse than it was before.”

Several days passed without any material change in the situation. Whitcomb had not come near Manly, and he had made great advance in his experiments, though he was beginning to feel that his work must be in vain. More and more he was feeling the need of the advice and instruction his father alone could give, and yet could not give under his present condition.

After working unusually hard and feeling tired, Manly had gone home earlier than common one evening, and Curly had missed the opportunity to ask him the question which had arisen in his mind. It was a permission to sleep that night in the shop-. His parents had finally become so quarrelsome that he did not dare go home to stay.

He had a key to the shop, and, believing his master would not object, Curly decided to sleep that night on the pile of old clothing in a corner of the room, intending to tell Manly in the morning of what he had done.

As a tired schoolboy drops asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow, to live over again his sports in dreams, Curly quickly fell into a slumber, though his dreams were not of careless sports, but of the tasks of the day. He thought he was in a big room surrounded by a crowd of graven images, and most prominent among them being his lifelike figures chipped out of korl.

In the midst of his wild speculations a slight movement near the door awoke him, showing that he had slept lightly. Starting upon his elbows Curly was listening intently in a moment, and while he lay there in silence he realized that some one was trying to force an entrance into the shop.

Knowing that this could be done at that time of night and in that manner for no honest purpose, he began to wonder what he, alone and single-handed, should do. There was no other way of exit from the place, or he might have attempted to have gone for assistance. Should he call for help he knew his voice would be drowned by the incessant roar of the machinery.

“It is the master’s models they are after!” he thought. “Oh, what shall I do?”

At that moment the door was forced ajar several inches and in the aperture thus made appeared the bearded face of the nocturnal intruder.

CHAPTER XXV.

CURLY'S MASTERPIECE.

Fortunately Curly was tying directly behind the two images he had been engraving, which with other objects concealed him from the scrutinizing gaze of the intruder, who paused a moment before pushing his body through the opening.

“ I can see everything right ready for us to lay our hands on, pal,” said the man, and at the sound of his voice Curly gave a start and uttered a low exclamation which for a moment he felt had betrayed his presence.

The cause of his sudden excitement was the discovery that the man breaking into the shop was his father!

There was no mistaking the ugly visage of Crash Cnrlew on closer examination. Who was with his parent he had no way of telling, nor how many.

The sounds from the mills did not allow his exclamations to reach the ears of the would-be robber, who the next moment began to press his clumsy figure through the aperture growing larger all the while. The door had struck against a block of wood, or else it would have yielded easily now he had forced the lock.

Curly was at his wit’s end to know what to do, when he saw the other suddenly stop, exclaiming in a tone barely reaching his ears: “Git back, Jim! the boss is here!”

Curly quickly knew his father had mistaken the graven figure he carved of the new boss for Irons himself. This gave him the happy thought of trying to carry out this deception, and, putting his hands against the lower part of the image, he began to move it slightly.

With a low cry of terror Crush Curlew retreated, closing the door with a slam.

With good presence of mind Curly darted forward and placed a bar of iron against the door so it could not be easily opened. Then he waited in anxiety to see what the other’s next move would be.

He could hear the men carrying on a conversation, though he could not catch what they said.

Then the bushy head of Crush Curlew appeared for a moment at the window, when Curly made a slight movement and it instantly disappeared.

A few minutes after that he heard the sound of footsteps going away from the place, and, opening the door a trifle, he had the satisfaction of seeing the two men, for there was but that number, disappearing in the distance.

Expecting the return of the robbers with increased numbers, and not daring to leave his post for fear they might return while he was gone, Curly passed the long hours until daylight with great anxiety. Never had he hailed the appearance of Manly with so much joy, and at once he told of his experience, not withholding the fact the leader of the robbers was his father.

“You have done me a great service, Curly, and I appreciate it. I did not dream Whitcomb would resort to such measures to get possession of my secret. For, of course, he was at the bottom of the affair, as your father could have no possible motive for doing it.”

“What shall you do with father?” asked Curly, anxiously, as the reality of the situation flashed into his mind.

“Nothing. Do not feel worried over that. I shall say nothing of it, and I do not want you to. It would do no good.”

How well truth will acknowledge itself was illustrated that afternoon, when Sheriff Whitcomb, for the first time in several days, addressed Manly, saying:

“Shop got broken into last night, didn’t it?”

“Have you heard any one say so?”

In a moment the other saw his mistake, and, turning different colors, he managed to stammer out:

“I—I overheard some of the workmen talking about it. Thought it was a pretty bold piece of business. Do you have any idea who did it?” “Oh, yes, I know very well who did it, and what is more, I know who hired them to do it,” watching the sheriff closely as he spoke.

“You look at me as if I was at the bottom of it!” exclaimed the officer, maintaining his self-possession with a great effort. “The fact is, I was miles from here. I went over to Lancaster yesterday afternoon. Saw Hildreth, and, what is more, heard a bit of unpleasant news about him. He is getting in deeper and deeper. It’s common talk about town they can’t pull through. It’s going to be bad for us if they don’t.”

Manly imagined the sheriff had taken this topic to turn the drift of the conversation, and not caring to say more to him he returned to his work.

Those were anxious days to the young master of the iron mills. He did not allow himself to lose run of work in the mills, but nearly all of his time he devoted to his experiments, but without any apparent solution of the great secret.

He could not help noticing that Irons was visiting the shop oftener than had been his practice at the outset. This man was an enigma to him. Always treating him deferentially, he still acted as if he was determined not a movement of his should escape him. Manly could not help acknowledging to himself that affairs at the mills had never run so smoothly as under his charge.

David Hawke, if it were possible, was growing more and more disagreeable.

Curhy was in all likelihood the happiest one of the party, for he was completely absorbed in his work. It is true he did not dare to go home to stop nights, but a sleeping place had been fixed up in the shop and there he remained, Manly sometimes staying with him, fearing that Whitcomb might make another attempt to have his men break in. For this reason the young master had been glad to consent to Curly’s sleeping in the room during the nights.

Having left his first attempt unfinished, the young sculptor had begun on a new subject. This time it was a sweet, womanly face he was chiseling from the korl, and it required no close observer to see that he was taking more pains with it than he had with any other. Day by day, as the fair, angelic countenance grew under his magical touches into life-like beauty he became more intensely interested in his work, while Manly could see that it was becoming his best attempt.

That Curly felt so, too, was evident, and coming suddenly upon him one day Manly found him with his arms about its neck, the tears streaming down his cheeks like rain.

“ Why,- Curly! is it possible you are so much in love with this impersonation of life created by your skill? It is your masterpiece, and I predict you will become a famous artist. I wish I could help you, and perhaps some time, when I get out of this snarl, if I do, I will. ”

Curly started up at the appearance of his friend, and blushing like a schoolboy, he exclaimed:

“ Please excuse me, master; you are very kind.

She is all I have to love in the world. You’ll forgive me, master?”

“Forgive? There is nothing to forgive. I am almost in love with it myself. But here comes Whitcomb, with just such a look on his face as he has when he finds he has got some new advantage to take of me.”

CHAPTER XXVI.

A NOTE FOR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Sheriff Whitcomb was feeling in excellent spirits. There was no mistaking that. His looks and manner showed it. As he approached the shop he cleared his mouth of the tobacco he had been working his jaws over for a good, long while, and clearing his throat he said:

“Got a hit of a surprise for you, Mr. Sterling. I vow it was a surprise to myself. But there is no gainsaying it. It is genuine.”

There he stopped, as if waiting for Manly to speak. But the young master did not humor him to that extent. He merely nodded' and returned to his work.

“Mighty indifferent!” muttered the sheriff.

“But I guess you will put on another face when I tell you what it it. I have found a note running to Matthew Grasp and signed by Henry Sterling and Leonard Grasp. I found it among some papers, where everybody else had overlooked it.”

He displayed the note sheet as he spoke, watching closely Manly’s countenance.

Our hero had heard so many such “surprises” from the other that he was loath to believe this was more than a dodge to give him extra uneasiness.

‘‘Let me take the note, ” he said.

But instead of handing it to him the sheriff held the note up so Manly could read it.

“ It is for five thousand dollars, and has been running for three years,” he volunteered.

Manly had already seen this, and he had seen, moreover, that his father’s name stood out in his bold, clear hand, with the fine, trembling signature of Leonard Grasp below.

“I don’t understand that, Mr. Whitcomb. It cannot be possible father was owing Matthew Grasp more than the mortgage.”

“It may seem hard for you to think so, but there is good, plain evidence. Of course, I am sorry as you, for it is another blow toward downing the company. This will have to be met. ”

“There is some mistake—there must be!” “What is in black and white cannot be disputed, according to my figures. I must say you are the biggest mule I ever met. I hope you will get some satisfaction from your mistakes. Mistakes, indeed! You are the biggest mistake I ever saw or ever want to.”

With these heartless words the sheriff left. Already overworked and well-nigh discouraged, Manly did not try to do anything more that day. If this new feature was true would there be any use for him to try and keep up longer?

“My only hope now is to get off that lot of rails,” he thought. “It will be a glad, if brief, relief to see some money.”

Absorbed in his task Curly did not know of his friend’s new distress, nor was he aroused from his work until a hand was laid on his shoulder, and he looked up to see with alarm Nathan Irons standing over him.

Uttering a sharp cry of terror the boy sculptor jumped away from the place, and seemed about to flee, when the boss said:

“Pardon me if I frightened you, Curly, but I did not realize what I was doing. Tell me, whom does that represent?

The speaker showed an undue earnestness which seemed to Curly in his terrified state of mind like a terrible rebuke for some misdemeanor, so he stood looking dumbly upon him until he spoke again.

“Is it some friend that you know? Tell me, boy! ” and he caught the frightened youth by the arm.

Poor Curly was more frightened than ever, but he managed to stammer:

“Please forgive me, Mr. Irons, but it is no one that I know—I mean that I can name.”

“ I do not understand you, Curly,” and seeing that his abrupt words and manner had quite unsettled the poor boy, he spoke more gently. “I did not wish to frighten you. I have watched your work with more interest than you dreamed. You have got an excellent likeness of myself. Why did you make that? ”

“ I felt so I must, sir. ”

“ And why did you drop work on that and begin this?”

“I could not help it, sir.”

“ Still you say it is only an ideal figure’?”

Perhaps Curly did not understand him, for he only continued to stare upon him in silence.

“I mean it is not the image of any one you ever knew—

“ Oh, I did know her, sir! Why, I have known her all my life. ”

“Then she lives here in Orecroft,” and there was a noticeable show of disappointment on his features.

“Oh, no, sir! Oh, what a mess I am making of it. Please forgive me, Mr. Irons. But do dreams ever come true! ”

“Sometimes, my boy; but this is no-dream.” “It is. 0 sir, you won’t think me foolish! But that face is very dear to me. I don’t know where I first saw it or when, but it is the first thing I can remember, of seeing her looking down upon me. Why, sir, there is not a night I do not see it in the dark. She is always in my dreams, and she is ever first to meet my eyes in the morning. Why, only this morning she kissed me as I woke! ”

Curly was in a fever of excitement, and to any other he must have seemed crazy.

“Calm yourself, Curly,” said Irons, gently. “Tell me when you first saw her.”

“I cannot, sir, it was so long ago. It seems like a dream, ” and then, as a new fear came into his heart, he asked, “Can it be after all but a dream?”

“We will hope not,” said Irons, reassuringly.

“ But tell me all you know about her. ”

“I have told you all, sir. I seem to see her at all times, but of course, sir, it is only my foolish imagination. Mother has whipped me many times for my foolishness, but I would always run away when father tried to whip me, he is so rough.”

Nathan Irons had released his hold on the young sculptor and he was watching him closely, saying when the other had finished:

“ I don’t understand it! I don’t understand it! Go on and finish your work. Make her look just as she looks in your dreams.”

“0 sir; I can’t make her half as beautiful as she is, sir. I thank you for your kindness.” “Sheriff Whitcomb wants to see you in a hurry, boss!” said a workman, thrusting his head into the door at that moment.

Irons started quickly to answer the summons.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE LAST STRAW.

The last movement of Whitcomb, that is, his presentation of the Grasp note, troubled Manly more than he was willing to acknowledge even to himself. When he had told the circumstances to his mother she at once remembered that she had heard his father say such a note had been given, hut it was her belief it had been paid.

“Would father have paid it without taking up the note?” he asked.

“The fact that the note remained with Matthew Grasp I must allow is proof positive that it has not been paid. But, Manly, I do not understand how your father got into debt so. He always told me the mills were paying well.”

“Father would not lie about it, mother, and last of all to you. ”

“No, my son, I have always had and have still unbounded faith in his honesty.

“You do not believe that he put any money into that invention?”

“No.”

“I do not. But, mother, I do not believe father got one dollar of all the money Leonard Grasp collected and borrowed, or got into his hands in any way. Leaving that part out, we can see that the mills paid, though I do not understand why they should have been borrowing this five thousand dollars from Matthew—hold on, mother! If I remember that date right, it was given before they took up the mortgage. Would Matthew Grasp have let this note be when the mortgage included it?”

“I cannot say, Manly. It may be they intended to pay it before a great while, and thus let it be as it was. ”

“I am not sure about the date of the note, as I only glanced at that. I must somehow find that out.”

Having little hope of succeeding with his experiments on welding, Manly felt that his only hope now lay in getting off the order for rails, on which he expected to realize so much, as soon as possible. His chagrin may therefore be imagined when that day he found that Whitcomb had ordered work suspended in that direction and the workmen put on a small job he had brought in.

The young master immediately sought the sheriff to ask him why he had done that, feeling that it was but one of the many things he had been putting under the wheels ever since he had managed to be felt in the management of the mills.

“Why,” replied the sheriff, in pretended astonishment, “it was the best that could be done. I couldn’t have got the order without doing it. A week or ten days won’t make any difference with the other.”

“It can’t be possible that you have forgotten that I told you those rails have got to be. out by the fifteenth or we forfeit the sale, Mr. Whitcomb. Then, too, I am depending on the money to keep business moving. I have only enough to pay another week’s wages to the workmen. And it is no use to think of trying to run without prompt payment to your help. Besides it is a loss always to drop a job and begin on another, with the certainty that you must return to the first. ”

“I suppose you would have let this order go.” “Better that than to take the alternative you have, sir. We are not in such bad shape for work that we need to jeopardize our prospects on our big orders.”

“Mr. Irons is running the mills, young man, and I consulted him before taking the step.”

“Mr. Irons is running the mills, is he, sir? You and I have no voice in the matter at all! Hawke, call the foreman here at once.”

Manly’s eyes flashed as he spoke, and the others saw that he was in no mood to trifle with.

To the wonder of them all Hawke quickly summoned the foreman.

“Mr. Irons,” greeted Manly, “I want to know, according to your opinion, who is master of these mills, Mr. Whitcomb, yourself or me?”

“I—really,” stammered the boss, “I have been getting most of my orders from Whitcomb, more, in fact, than I could carry out sometimes.”

“Was it your idea to shift from work on these rails to the order he gave you yesterday?”

“Not exactly. Whitcomb told me to and I did. Perhaps I should have consulted you.”

“This is infamous!” broke in the sheriff. “I thought you had more back-bone than this, Irons.”

“Sir, have I ever failed to carry out an order given me with the proper authority behind it?”

“How long will it take you to finish those rails, Mr. Irons?” asked Manly.

“Barring any bad luck, we can finish the last of them next Thursdav noon.”

“Good! Now, I want you to go ahead—drop all other orders—until the last rail has been turned out.”

Irons looked from Manly to the trembling sheriff, and then back to the young master, when he said:

“It shall be done, Mr. Sterling.”

“If you are going to carry such a high hand as this, I shall be obliged to demand a settlement on that Grasp note,” muttered Whitcomb, as he turned away.

Paying no heed to this, Manly next wrote a letter to the concern expecting the rails, informing them when they would be ready to ship.

That day Manly made his last experiment, and, failing, resolved to waste not another hour’s time upon it.

“Father might have succeeded; I cannot.”

That afternoon he was surprised and pleased by a visit from Hildreth, though he could see by the other’s looks before he had spoken that he was in sore straits.

He listened to Manly’s account of affairs at the mills with something of his old time interest, saying at his conclusion:

“You have made a good fight, Manly, but what the end will be I cannot tell. But I do think there is a crisis near at hand. I must confess that it has come with us. We have tried our best to keep our heads above water, but it has been useless. Do not be surprised if that claim of ours against you is crowded for payment at once. ”

“If it doesn’t come before the last of next week I will be ready for it.”

“I sincerely hope you can stave them off until then. You could if you had almost any other man to deal with than Whitcomb.”

Two days later, somewhat to Manly’s surprise, a man appeared at the mills who said he was the representative of the corporation which was expecting the rails. .

“Thought it would be no harm to come on and see them before you shipped. In case they are not 0K, it will save lots of expense.”

“But they are according to contract, sir.”

“ They will speak for themselves. ”

Then, when the newcomer had examined the rails, Manly met the greatest surprise in his life. And it was expressed in three words. It sometimes happens the fewest words express the keenest agony.

“They won’t do!”

“You cannot mean it. As I said, they are according to contract. ”

“Not exactly, young man. I am as sorry to say so as you are to hear it, for we have depended upon them. Here is the agreement. You must have one like it.”

The contract the man showed did not agree with that held by Manly, but there was a little clause at the foot which stated that it succeeded and took the place of all previous contracts.

“As this would indicate, there was a contract drawn up and signed calling for lighter weight, but our folks afterward found they would be too light for their use, and so made a new trade with Sterling & Grasp. They readily agreed to it, as it was at an advanced figure. You will notice that my agreement guarantees more money than yours calls for.”

“ This is all the contract I have seen. ”

“I am sorry, but the rails are worthless to us.”

Manlv did not fail to hear a low chuckle of delight from Whitcomb at this declaration.

It was the deathblow to Manly’s hopes. Upon this order he had hung all his hopes, and now he found even this prop torn down.

“It is a most unfortunate mistake,” Nathan 'Irons said. “If there was another contract, where can it be, Mr. Sterling? ”

“Ask him where his good wit is, and perhaps he can tell you,” said the sheriff.

“It is neither good policy nor good grace to kick a fellow who is down, Mr. Whitcomb,” declared Irons. “Shall I finish the order, Mr. Sterling? I don’t wish to interfere, bnt it would bo my advice to go ahead. ”

“Go ahead, Mr. Irons. It will make little difference now.”

The foreman was as good as his word in finishing the railroad rails Thursday, and that day, at its close, Manly surprised every one by paying off the help and ordering the mills to be shut down for an indefinite period.

“It may be for one week; it may be for always,” he said in explanation. “I have paid out all of my money and have got to stop. ”

Thus for the first time since they had been started up the Orecroft iron mills became closed. No longer did the thunder of its machinery, the roar of its furnaces mingle with the constant tumult of the waterfall.

Quietly and with more orderliness than might have been expected the workmen filed out of the dingy buildings to seek their enforced idleness.

The hum of the machinery had scarcely ceased before Sheriff Whitcomb had posted notices of an official sale of the whole property at the end of two weeks.

“It will soon be mine now,” he murmured, as he turned away with a smile on his lips.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MANLY VISITS ROLIN STEELE.

The first person to seek Manly, who left the mills as soon as he had closed them, was Nathan Irons. The foreman appeared more cordial than formerly. He did not feel disposed to be very free with this man, whose conduct he could not quite understand. At times he had seemed friendly toward him, but he had always been on good terms with the sheriff, and often consulted him in regard to what should be done.

“Now that you have taken this very prudent step of yours to shut down work,” began Irons, “I feel anxious to know what your plans are, if I may be so bold as to inquire. I must confess that I am actuated somewhat from selfish motives, but for your sake I hope the suspension is not for a long time.”

“It is for an indefinite period,” replied Manly. “How long depends on my success in the next step I must take. ”

“And that?”

“Is to look out for my own interest,” Manly replied, evasively, not liking the other’s inquisitiveness.

“I did not mean to offend. I think you have done what was for the best. Have you given up your experiments? ”

“For the present, though I may begin again as soon as I can.”

“I would if I were you. I suppose you will bid the mills in when the auction takes place? ”

“It looks like it,” replied Manly with a laugh. “Why if gold dollars were selling at ten cents apiece I could not get rich buying them. I have put all the money I had in the business, and I can do no more.”

' “But you have some plan of action?”

“Not developed yet. I shall not give up the fight yet, Mr. Irons, and my courage is good.”

“That is one-half the battle, but here comes Whitcomb, and I will be moving. ”

To Manly it seemed as if the sheriff had called on purpose to express his triumph in the turn of affairs. But the officer treated him with uncommon respect and stayed but a few minutes, confining his remarks toward some mode of adjustment of Manly’s account.

“In spite of his apparent good nature,” said Manly, as soon as he was gone, “I cannot help thinking he came just to see how I was feeling. Well, I must confess it does look rather dark for me now.”

“It is always darkest before dawn, my son.” Manly and his mother talked late into the night over the situation, both finally agreeing that it would be best to see Mr. Steele as soon as convenient.

“I want him to know just how the matters stand, and for him to hear my story, mother. I shall tell him just as it is.”

Manly did not fail to carry out his resolution to go to Greenwich in the morning, and by the middle of the forenoon he was entering the office of the great railroad magnate and banker. If he felt a shrinking from his unpleasant task he did not show it.

Mr. Steele was not in his office, but a messenger soon brought him, when he greeted our hero cordially.

“How goes it at Orecroft? I suppose by this time you have got everything to your liking. ”

“Far from it, sir. Everything has seemed to go wrong. I am tied up at last,” coming bluntly to that part of his errand.

“I don’t believe I understand you. Please explain.”

“Is it possible you have not heard how affairs have gone at the mills? Mr. Steele, I have betrayed your confidence. I have failed where you thought I would succeed, and I have come to warn you in the hope you may not lose your money. ”

The banker’s manner became more stern as he said:

“You keep me in the dark. Please tell me how matters stand at Orecroft.”

Then, coming to the subject easier than he had expected, Manly told how Sheriff Whitcomb had been appointed administrator of the estate of Matthew Grasp, how he conducted himself in the management of the mills, how he had produced most unexpectedly the note for five thousand dollars, how the big order for rails, upon which he had staked his hopes, had been rejected, how he had paid off his help and closed the mills, and how Whitcomb had posted his notices for a sheriff’s sale of the property.

He was glad when he had reached the end, some time before which the banker had arisen and begun to pace the floor.

“Your frankness equals your audacity,” he declared, after a pause. “So your prospects look pretty dark. I am sorry for you.”

“But it is not for myself that I care so much; it is for you—the money you let me have. I have come to tell you this, so you might get what you can out of the company. ”

“But I have no claim against Sterling & Grasp. I hold your individual note for ten thousand dollars, payable at the end of the year. ”

“But I used the money to pay up the company’s debts and to run the business. Isn’t there some way you can secure yourself? ”

“I see none I care to follow. So it was for this you came to me? It must have taken some moral courage to do it. ”

“I felt that it was my duty, sir.”

“Let me see, that five thousand dollar note was something of a surprise to you? ”

“It was, sir. I cannot help thinking it has been paid.”

“That will hardly count in court against the note. Now about those rails? Describe them to me.”

When Manly had finished he said:

“If I were you, I would see the corporation, though I have little idea they will take them. It seems to me singular your agreements should not agree.”

“So it does’ to me. Father was always very particular about such matters. ”

“It looks as' if he had met more than his match in young Grasp. But I have an engagement at this time. I thank you for coming to me, but you remember I was careful to warn you- that I should not let you have another dollar, not even to save what I had, as it looks now, foolishly risked. ”

“I have not come for more money, Mr. Steele, but I thought it no more than my duty to tell you just what has taken place, and how I tried to keep above the tide. ”

“Exactly. You seem to be surrounded by such a combination of circumstances as no ordinary person could keep above. I can see now I made a mistake in letting you have the money. But I never cry over spilt milk. I have your witnessed note, good for twenty years, and I must wait my time, or rather yours, I suppose. As I said, I would see the Howlands about those rails at once. Let me know if there is anything new. Good day.”

At a loss to know whether he had met with a, disappointment or not in this visit to Rollin Steele, Manly left Greenwich for Orecroft on the nest train.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MANLY SEES LEONARD GRASP.

When Manly got back to Orecroft he was surprised to find that Whitcomb had posted a sheriff’s notice on the door to his father’s workshop. Finding upon inquiry that the officer was not in town, and knowing it was useless to speak to Hawke about it, he resolved to follow out the advice of Mr. Steele with as little loss of time as possible.

Accordingly, as soon as he had informed his mother of the rather doubtful result of his visit to Greenwich, he took the train for his new destination, knowing he would be unable to return before late the next day.

This journey was uneventful and unproductive of good, as far as his meeting with the Howlands was concerned. In fact, the great corporation, through its manager, felt like trying to get damages from him for not carrying out the agreement of Sterling & Grasp with them.

“Why, it is thousands of dollars injury—positive injury to us. For our use your rails are valueless. We had supposed Sterling & Grasp were reliable men.”

In vain Manly tried to explain, and, more disheartened than ever, he left the massive building which was the headquarters of the big railroad corporation.

Finding it would be best for him to wait for the midnight express to start on his homeward journey, Manly did not go to the station until past ten o’clock, when he found only a few belated travelers about the place.

These soon grew less in number until a little past eleven, he was left alone in the waiting-room. Feeling tired and sleepy, he stretched himself out on one of the settees for a little rest and it might be a nap before the train should come

He bad been lying there half an hour and he was nearly asleep, when he heard footsteps approaching. Glancing out from under his arm which he had laid over his head he saw two men entering the room. Expecting to see none but strangers there he did not move, and was relapsing into his semi-unconscious state when one of the newcomers spoke, and the tone of his voice instantly arrested Manly’s attention.

The stranger’s companion made some reply, when Manly started at the sound of his voice.

He was Sheriff Whitcomb!

'Without having time to consider upon his action, Manly’s impulse was to lie perfectly still. And he did not have to wait long before he received a second surprise greater than the first.

Whitcomb’s companion was Leonard Grasp!

How he kept from betraying himself Manly could never quite tell, but fortunately he did remain perfectly quiet, listening for what the two men might say.

As he was lying on. a settee in the corner of the room, where he could not be plainly seen, it was doubtful if the speakers saw him at all. They certainly did not dream of finding him there. Grasp spoke next:

“Is there any light, Clint! Is there any hope that I can go home to see mother! Oh, this is awful, Clint, and you drove me—”

“Shut your mouth, you fool! I’ll hand you over to the police at once if you haven’t more manhood to you. It was an honest debt you owed me and you stole from Sterling—”

“Hush! some one might hear you, Clint. ” “But you didn’t think of that when you dared to accuse me of your ruin. But there is no one round, and we can speak lower. As I said the money you stole from Sterling, for it amounts to a robbery, was to pay the debt you had incurred with me. If I had not had more heart than some I should not have come to listen to your pleadings.”

“ I wanted to know how it was going at home, —at Orecroft.”

“At home there is no change. Of course you have heard how your father—”

“Please do not mention his name. How I pity poor mother—her husband an embezzler, her son—” here the unfortunate man buried his face in his hands as if he could say no more. Whitcomb went on in his cold, unfeeling tone: “At Orecroft the prospect is brighter. Your late partner has lost his reason and sits munching around like a blind dog. The boy undertook to run the business and run it into the earth. There will be a sale next week under my directions, and I expect to get the whole concern for a song. I have fixed it so the creditors will get about fifty cents on a dollar and they ought to feel mighty grateful to me. The boy scooped old man Steele for a cool ten thousand, but he won’t miss it.”

“Don’t talk like that, Clint. Your words sound like mockery. I suppose when you have got matters fixed at Orecroft I can see mother and tell her I am not as bad as it looks.”

“I don’t care what you tell her. You seem to be getting along here pretty well, though I can’t say as you dress very well.”

“It wouldn’t do, Clint. You see I pass here as a common laborer—yes, of the very lowest kind, for I work with the scum of the earth in the ditches and sewers. I never dreamed of coming to this.”

“Still you prefer it to the cell of a state prison?”

“Hush! how you delight to say such things. Here is what I promised you for coming. Hark! I thought I heard the car whistle.”

“You are nervous, Len,” replied the sheriff, taking the small package handed him. “The train isn’t due for fifteen minutes. You have the correct amount here?”

“An even two hundred, Clint. I was willing to give that just to see one familiar face. So the boy undertook to run the business?”

“Yes, with a high hand, but I soon crippled him. That note to your father did the business.”

“What note?”

“Why, that one for five thousand, and given before the mortgage. ”

“But it was paid, Clint. I—”

“Looks like it! But here comes the station agent; let’s be moving.”

Without further words the twain went hastily out of the station, leaving Manly in a maze of wonder. But, anxious that they should not escape him, he quickly gave pursuit. To his. disappointment, however, he could not find any trace of them outside the building.

CHAPTER XXX.

“YOU HAVE CONQUERED!”

Vexed with himself that he should have allowed the others to get away from him, Manly continued his search for them until the train came into the station. In the brief while he had found a policeman, to whom he told his story, and the latter had sent word to the police headquarters of the necessity of prompt action.

“There is my train,” said Manly, “and I must not miss it. ”

“Go!” said the blue-coated official. “The man cannot escape us, and we ’ll nab him before daylight, or my name ain’t Ted O’Bright.”

Without stopping to reply, Manly ran back to the station, getting there just in season to swing himself aboard the moving train.

By the time the cars had got fairly started on the long trip Manly had recovered himself sufficiently to feel the chagrin which was natural under the circumstances that he had let Leonard Grasp escape him. But he had learned an important secret, and his eyes had been opened to a truth of which he had not dreamed. While he had no actual proof of the fact, he was aware that Sheriff "Whitcomb was at the bottom of the latter’s downfall as well as all the trouble at Orecroft.

Anxious to know if Whitcomb was on the train, he went from car to car, until he found the object of his search complacently seated in the smoker. He was careful not to be seen by the other.

“It will all come out right in the end,” he thought, “ if I am careful how I act. At last I have a clue to the mystery. ”

His mother agreed with him that his long journey, while it had not been productive of any direct good, had given a result which must be a benefit in the end. It was hard for her to believe that Sheriff Whitcomb could be so devoid of honor as to act the part he had.

“I am sorry for Leonard as well as the rest of us. He never seemed strong to resist a temptation. But I must speak of your father, Manly, for he has seemed so different since the mills were shut down. He has become so restless and / excitable that I am almost afraid of him. The doctor was afraid he might grow more violent. I wish you would send for him to come tomorrow. ”

The next morning Manly went over to the mills at an early hour, to find only Hawke, the keeper, about the premises.

Having been told that a notice had been posted on the door of the workshop, he was surprised to find none there then, and he entered the place at once.

Curly came soon after, and then Mr. Sterling reached the place, to quietly enter and take his old seat, paying no attention to Manly or his companion.

“ Are you going to work to-day? ” asked Curly. “I wish you would, as I am anxious to finish my statue.”

“I think I might as well, Curly. It will help to pass the time. Curly, you are outdoing yourself on that work. I never saw such a beautiful expression.”

“I am glad you like it, master. But I ought to do it better than the others, I have tried it so many times. ”

About ten o’clock Manly was surprised at his work by the appearance of Sheriff Whitcomb, who was fairly boiling over with rage. Opening his demand with an oath, he cried:

“How dare you tear off that notice from that door, young man? I will make you smart for that.” ”

“ There was no notice — ”

“None of your impudence to me. Why, it is worse than breaking and entering, this getting here as you have. I can put you now where you belong. ”

Hawke stood near by grinning with great satisfaction. He had sent for his employer to come. But as Whitcomb went out of the shop he found himself face to face with Nathan Irons, who asked:

“What was that I heard you say, Whitcomb? ”

“That I was going to put this youngster in state prison before night.”

“Not quite as soon as that, Mr. Whitcomb. I understand what your charge is against the boy, and I can testify that he is innocent. There was no notice on the door yesterday afternoon and he was out of town. ”

“If any other man had told me that, Irons, I should tell him he lied.”

“You can tell me so if you wish, but I advise you to let the boy alone here. He is on his own ground. ”

“ So you are conniving with him? ”

“I connive with nobody here, sir, and if you open your mouth again I will put you out of here so quick your head will swim.”

Irons showed that he was excited.

“Of course I meant no offense to you, Irons, but if I can find out who pulled down that notice I will make him smart for it. ”

“Well, find him first, Whitcomb.”

Without further words Whitcomb went away, followed by his confederate.

“Your father tore off the notice,” said Irons, as soon as the others were beyond hearing, “but I wouldn’t tell him so much. ”

“I am sorry — ”

“I wouldn’t be if I were in your place. Now, if I had a few days of comparative leisure, I would work on my experiments if I were you. Perhaps I can help you, as I have nothing to do.”

Mr. Irons’ apparent friendship was so unexpected that Manly could scarcely appreciate his kind words. But if the foreman did what he could to assist our hero, his attention seemed more bound up in what Curly was doing. Ever and anon he would cross the room and admire the boy sculptor’s handiwork.

The day passed without bringing any message from those whom Manly had expected would effect the arrest of Leonard Grasp. He felt that it would be useless for him to make any move against Whitcomb until his confederate had been captured.

But as the days passed without bringing any tidings of the arrest of Leonard Grasp, Manly felt that the other had in some way been warned of his danger and fled.

The auction sale of the mills was to take place on Thursday, and that morning before sunrise Manly was at work in his shop. But it was not on account of the great sale to take place so soon and which so closely concerned him. It was a matter of even more vital importance.

All the previous day he had seemed on the very eve of the greatest achievement of his life. At last his experiments were proving successful! He felt it! He knew it! Irons, who was with him all the day, felt it—knew it! Even his father must have felt it—known it! For the first time since he had failed in his mind Mr. Sterling showed signs of returning sanity.

Several times he left his seat and looked on while the young inventor tested his work.

As early as it was in the morning, Irons soon joined Manly at the shop, and his father came in, too.

Then Curly, bringing an old sack filled with some bulky material, appeared on the scene.

“Here is a whole bagful of papers I found buried under the corner of the upper mill last evening, Manly. Some of them are covered with figures, and they look to me of value.”

But unheeding Curly’s words Manly and his companions went on with their experiments. All the morning they worked, never thinking of anything else, not even of their breakfast.

“You have almost got it, Manly,” said Irons at last.

Manly’s father was showing great excitement, and at that moment he joined in the exciting, anxious work.

Then, their brows reeking with perspiration, their hands and clothes covered with dust and dirt, they paused for another test. No sooner was it made than Nathan Irons cried:

“Eureka! you have conquered, Manly Sterling! The victory is yours. ”

So great was the excitement of his companions that Curly lost interest in his carving and came over and joined them.

“It is holding!” cried Manly. “It is the best yet! ”

“The best!” said Irons. “It can be no better! Look here, Manly Sterling. I am authorized to give you fifty thousand dollars for a quarter interest in the patent. That will enable You to hold the mills—Jove! We are none too soon. See. The crowd has come— the sale is begun!”

“What is going on!” asked Manly, so bewildered for a moment over his wonderful success that he could see nothing clearly, think of nothing plainly.

“It’s the auction!” replied Irons. “Hark! Hear the auctioneer’s voice. Some one has bid forty thousand dollars. It is Whitcomb! Quick! Outbid him. ”

Nathan Irons had never before shown such excitement, and even Manly felt thrilled by the situation as he dashed out of the shop and crowded his way through the big throng which had gathered about the mills.

“Forty thousand dollars bid by Mr. Whitcomb!’’ cried the voluble auctioneer. “Who speaks next? All in? Going—going—go— ”

“I bid fifty thousand dollars!” fairly shouted Manly.

For a moment silence fell on the scene, and then the loud voice of Whitcomb cried:

“It’s only a boy bidding, Minot. He’s a minor, and his bid cannot count. Knock it off to me! ”

CHAPTER XXXI.

“ EXCITEMENT ENOUGH FOR A DOZEN AUCTIONS! ”

As Sheriff Whitcomb made his excited speech the auctioneer suddenly checked his flow of language and a silence fell on the scene.

"Go on!” hissed the sheriff; "don’t mind him! He’s a minor, and has no business to bid. My bid stands until another is made.”

"Don’t let him bluff you,” whispered Irons, and at that moment, unnoticed by them, Rollin Steele drove upon the scene.

Manly needed no urging to stand firm, and he said in a clear, ringing voice:

"I repeat my bid, auctioneer; fifty thousand dollars! ”

"He’s a minor, and disqualified from bid ding!” shrieked Whitcomb; “and besides he hasn’t a dollar in the world.”

“Fool!” retorted Nathan Irons, sharply, “he has a hundred thousand dollars in the bank to his credit, and if that is not sufficient he can have twice that amount.”

“Ay, five times that!” fairly shouted Rollin Steele, the big banker, getting as excited as any of them.

The confused auctioneer looked helplessly from one to another, until Manly again bid:

“Fifty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty thousand is the bid. Who says more? Going—going—fifty thousand dollars for Orecroft iron mills, going—”

“Fifty-one!” cried the exasperated sheriff. “This is infamous!” wiping his face and trembling from head to feet.

“Fifty-two,” said Manly, quickly.

“One dollar!” fairly yelled Whitcomb. “I shall dispute such bids as those made by that youngster.”

Men were getting excited and began to move to and fro regardless of where they stopped or how. Mr. Steele had arisen in his carriage so he commanded a view of the whole exciting tableau.

“Away with such paltry bids!” he cried. “Bid again, Manly Sterling, if it must be, but no bid for a dollar can be accepted on such a sale as this. Never heard of such a thing.”

“Fifty-two thousand am I offered. Who says the three? Who says the five hundred? Who says the half? Who says the quarter? Going—going—gone! Sold to Manly Sterling for—”

“I denounce it as a bogus sale!” cried Whitcomb. “I bid more than this — ”

“If you please, Clinton Whitcomb, you will come with us,” said a voice at his elbow, while a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder.

The sheriff turned to find to his utter amazement a couple of blue-coated officials standing beside him.

“What does this mean?” he gasped, turning pale, as if he anticipated the meaning only too well.

“You are our prisoner, sir. Will you come peacefully, or shall we he obliged to put the handcuffs on you?”

“Never, sir!” throwing out his arms and sending the speaker headlong upon the ground. “I have played that game too many times myself to be caught now. ”

But the terrified sheriff reckoned without a full realization of his situation. If he thought to break through that crowd and get away he soon found his mistake. The second officer was quick to act, and he had not taken two steps before he found himself in a clutch he could not shake off. He fared the worse for his resistance.

While this was going on Manly had been handed a telegram, which held the key to the situation.

Leonard Grasp had been captured, and confessing to his crimes had implicated Sheriff Whitcomb, so that the latter would be arrested at the first opportunity.

Nathan Irons read the dispatch over our hero ’s shoulder, and he said:

“ That is good news. But I did not know any one knew where the rascal was keeping himself. How in the world did you find it out, Manly? ”

“I saw him in conversation with Whitcomb when I went on to see about those rails.”

“But you said nothing of it.”

“Why should I? I had no one I dared turn to.”

“Very true, very true. But the time has come when I can offer an explanation of my conduct. Here, Rollin!” he suddenly exclaimed, beckoning to the big banker, “it looks so the' boy had come out of it with flying colors.” “And I am glad of it. Give me your hand, Manly Sterling. I like you for the enemies you have made. Accept my congratulations.” Somewhat bewildered by the strange course affairs had taken, Manly was scarcely able to reply.

“Excuse me,” broke in the auctioneer at this moment, “but when and where do you wish to have the papers made out, Mr. Sterling?”

“As well right here in his own office as anywhere,” replied Mr. Steele, before Manly could reply. “I am behind him in this, if he needs any help, which I rather doubt.”

“He can look out for himself,” said Irons. “He has perfected his invention, and I have offered him what you told me for a quarter interest”

“That is the best news I have heard yet. Don’t get impatient, Minot. You see we all feel so well that we can’t think of business.”

“Take your time, gentlemen. There seems to be excitement enough for a dozen auctions, and that is what I like. What has Whitcomb done that he should fall a victim to his own methods of warfare, gentlemen?”

CHAPTER XXXII.

CLEARING UP.

As Mr. Mid, there was excitement enough for a dozen auctions, and Manly felt dazed and bewildered as he went with his friends into the private office of Sterling & Grasp. He was beginning to realize that he had friends where he had not looked for them. A goodly number of the workmen of Orecroft mills had gathered about the mills at the time of the sale with gloomy looks upon their grimy visages, but a sudden change had come over every countenance. Though they did not know just what had taken place every man knew his young master had triumphed, and shouts of joy rent the air.

Sheriff Whitcomb hearing these and thinking they were directed toward him in his downfall, gave expression to bitter speeches, as he was borne away a prisoner. In spite of his bold scheming he had failed at last and the honest youth had won his victory.

“The men feel well,” said Mr. Steele, as the cries of the workmen rang on the air. “ I think you have their sympathy, Manly. ”

“ He has had it all the time, ” spoke up honest John Fulton, “for he has stood up by them through thick and thin.”

“He has had the hearty sympathy of every honest man,” declared Nathan Irons, “but he has been put to a severe test. ”

“I don’t doubt it, Charles, I don’t doubt it, but it will do him no harm. It is like tempering steel to be tried in the furnace, and he has come out better for the ordeal. He has gained many hearty supporters by it. ”

Before any one could reply Henry Sterling pushed his way through the crowd and stood in the doorway, gazing over the throng with a peculiar light in his eyes. Then, for the first time since his singular loss of reason, he murmured:

“It is lifting, Manly, the cloud is lifting.”

“So it is lifting, father!” cried Manly, rushing forward and throwing his arms about his neck. “It has lifted, father! We are free! Your invention is a success, and Orecroft iron mills are saved.”

It was a touching scene and there was not a dry eye among those strong men.

“You say he has succeeded in the process of welding, and you think it is a good thing, Charles?” asked Mr. Steele, giving Nathan Irons this name for the second time.

“A good thing? It is going to revolutionize the iron business. I have done as you told the minute there was a prospect of success, offered him fifty thousand dollars for a quarter interest.”

“You did right, but it is time for us to explain, or he will not know how to take us. You can explain the part you have acted first.”

“That is easier said than done. But I want to say, Manly Sterling, that I am an impostor here! But if so, I have done my part for your good. As soon as Mr. Steele, my brother-in-law, took an interest in your work here he sent me, in the disguise of a workman, to investigate the situation. If everything proved as you said, to assist you in whatever way I thought best, but not to let you know until the end that he was behind me. If Whitcomb was in the right I was to act accordingly. If I have appeared friendly to him it was because I considered it best in order to accomplish my object. My right name is Charles Grantham, and if I have displeased you in any way I ask your forgiveness.’’

“I see it all now,” said Manly, frankly. “You have been my friend through it all, and I wish to thank you for it.”

“I have less to explain,” said Mr. Steele, “but I confess that you won my confidence on the day you stood up so nobly for one of my poor old horses. I have always said that the person who would stand by a dumb creature in distress would prove faithful to any trust. But I must also say that my little daughter spoke such a good word for you that I could not resist helping you. You lost nothing by coming to me in your darkest hour in the way you did, but I could not then give you encouragement, as I had not heard from Charles. But I assure you, we have been busy since.

“I can see now that Whitcomb has been planning to get possession of the mills from the first, or ever since Leonard Grasp disappeared. If they should catch him he would throw some strange light on the situation.”

“He has been captured,” said Manly, handing the telegram to Mr. Steele, when for the first time the others learned the real cause of Sheriff Whitcomb’s arrest.

“So you found him, my boy! Well, well, it is a proud day for you. But it is proving as I expected. Leonard Grasp was the tool of this unprincipled Whitcomb. ”

“Here are the papers to be signed conferring the mills on young Sterling,’’ said Mr. Minot. “I suppose he has the money ready?”

“I don’t know about this,” replied Manly. “Of course all I wish to do is to keep the mills in the hands of their present owners. I am only a minor anyway.”

“I think the property will pass into the hands of the Sterlings,” said Mr. Steele, “and I suppose there are two or three ways to do it. All that the outsiders wish and can get is their just dues. If those were paid the mills would belong just where they have been until further settlement could be made. As I am the one who took up the Matthew Grasp mortgage, that matter need not trouble you at all. Whitcomb tried to get that into his hands, but I would not sell to him without having first arranged it so the property could be bought in. How is it about that last note, Manly?”

“That is still a mystery to me, but Curly has found a lot of old papers which I am sure Leonard Grasp had concealed, and which may explain it all.”

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IN WHICH THE MEANS ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE ENDS.

The papers Curly had found and rescued from destruction did explain more than the most sanguine had dared to expect. They proved to be, in part, the accounts of Sterling & Grasp, showing the alterations and manipulations of Leonard Grasp. There were private papers of the firm, too, among them being the order which was intended to govern the making of the rails, over which there had been a disagreement.

A receipt was also found for the five thousand dollars represented by the note in favor of Matthew Grasp, which Whitcomb had used with such troublesome results. By this it was learned that the note had been lost, or mislaid, so it could not be found.

There were other papers and documents belonging to Leonard Grasp, showing conclusively his crimes.—how he had used the name of the company to borrow money to put in his own pocket. It was discovered, too, that Whitcomb had got him into his clutches by loaning him money to pay gambling debts, and that Grasp expected to pay him off with the funds stolen from the company.

Though these papers were hardly needed now, as Leonard Grasp had confessed all, they were carefully saved.

“It is all plain now,” said Mr. Steele, “and I see no obstacle in your way. You ought to be happy. ”

“I am, sir, and the happiest part of it is the hope that father is becoming himself. Dr. Wise has come, and he is surprised at the change, though he says it is what he had expected. I honestly think the shutting down of the mills had a good effect. ”

“So it did, but your successful experiments on that welding was the real cure. He seemed to know as well as you that it was going to be a success”

“I know it, and better, for even now I cannot realize that it is true.”

“It is all plain sailing,” declared John Fulton, who had enjoyed the scene as well as any one. “And Manly Sterling deserves all the credit.”

“Nay, my dear friend, I do not forget those who have stood by me so faithfully. Without their aid I could not have won. But where is Curly? I want him to enjoy this.”

“He is down in the shop, where Charles has gone,” said Mr. Steele. “Hilloa! here comes my sister and wife and little girl! What does it mean?”

“And mother is coming, too, and father is leaning on her arm,” said Manly.

Before more could be said of him whom we have known as Nathan Irons, bnt whose true name was Charles Grantham, he approached, leading Cnrly by the hand, the young sculptor crying like a child, but they were tears of joy.

“Look here, friends!” cried Mr. Grantham, who showed he was laboring under great excitement, “ don ’t think you are all the ones who are happy. This is the happiest moment of my life. Rollin, Mary and I have found at last our long-lost boy! I felt sure of it yesterday, but I sent for her without saying a word to any one for fear I might be wrong. And you can’t guess how I recognized him. It was through his carving a perfect image of his mother. You can’t tell how anxiously I have watched his work, and when I found that he was making it from the dim memory he had of one he had seen years ago, when he was little more than a baby, I knew I was on the right track. ”

And so it proved. Curly—but Curly no more —had been restored to his rightful parents, while he felt a joy too great for utterance. It seemed he had been stolen from his home when small and afterward left with, the Curlews, to be reared as their child. Now, his own genius had helped to find those who had so long mourned him as dead.

Truly it was a happy day for all, and congratulations were in order on every hand. In the afternoon Mr. Hildreth came to Orecroft, and finding that Manly had come out of his ordeal so well he rejoiced with him.

In the great joy of the occasion plenty of assistance was promised him by which to get over his financial embarrassment.

Now that I have seen my hero through his trying scenes I suppose my task is nearly over, though I must linger long enough to picture a brighter scene than it has been my opportunity to do so far.

The scene I would portray this time is one of bustle and activity. Once more the sullen thunder and the roar of Orecroft iron mills drown even the din of the rushing water, and everywhere is life and bustle and work and prosperity. Henry Sterling & Son are now sole owners of the property and it is paying better than ever, for there is no drawback in its management. John Fulton and Kent Knerl have got their old positions.

The rails that were made for the big corporation were taken by Mr. Steele, who doubled the order.

But the success of the iron mills was secondary compared to that of the system of welding put out by the Sterlings, a system which completely revolutionized the iron business. That alone would make them millionaires, and if you have any doubt look up the history of the Cort method of preparing, welding and working iron, of which I have given you the particulars of its invention.

Mr. Sterling soon appeared perfectly sane and has never given any indication of a lapse from his normal state. Overwork and worry resulting from suspicion that his partner was going wrong no doubt was the cause of his loss of mind.

Leonard Grasp made restitution as far as he could, and got off with, a lighter sentence than Whitcomb, who was more to blame than he. The note for five thousand dollars had been included in the mortgage held by Matthew Grasp.

Last, but not least, he whom we have known as “Curly” has prospered, and is to-day a famous sculptor, whose name is known in two continents. But the treasure that he prizes highest, and which his now aged parents would not lose for any compensation, is the image cut from korl when he was a boy in the midst of his troubles at the iron mills.

Oh, I must not close without speaking of her who was Bertie Steele, and tell you that she says she has the happiest home in the wide world at Orecroft. With whom? Cannot you guess? There we must leave them.

THE END.