"Excuse me," said Sinclair, looking puzzled, "but you seem very young to be taken into Mr. Wainwright's confidence."

 

"I am only seventeen."

 

"I don't understand it."

 

"Nor do I," answered Fred, smiling, "but Mr. Wainwright is right in supposing that I will do my best for him."

 

"Does he give you full powers in this matter?"

 

"Read this letter and you can judge for yourself."

 

The sick man eagerly held out his hand, and read carefully the letter which Fred placed in it. It ran thus:

 

JAMES SINCLAIR: The bearer of this letter has full powers to treat with you. I am glad you realize the wrong you have done me, and am prepared to consider your case in a generous spirit. The theft is known only to those who committed it, my young messenger and myself. On the return of the bonds I will take you back into my employment.

 

JOHN WAINWRIGHT.

 

Tears came to the eyes of Sinclair.

 

"How kind and considerate Mr. Wainwright is!" he said in a tone of emotion. "Read this letter."

 

"You are right, but I would do the same."

 

Sinclair extended his hand which Fred shook cordially.

 

"I am not as bad as you may suppose. It was Bowman who, by his artful hints and allurements, induced me to rob my employer. I have never ceased to repent it."

 

"Are you prepared to restore the bonds? That will set you right."

 

"When I wrote the letter I was prepared, but now I must depend on you to find them."

 

"You don't know where they are?" asked Fred in dismay.

 

"No. You see that trunk at the other end of the room?"

 

"Yes."

 

"They were there until three days ago. Then Bowman, who kept the key, opened the trunk in my presence, and took out the package of bonds, locking the trunk after him."

 

"'What are you doing?' I asked.

 

"'Going to put these bonds into a place of security,' he answered.

 

"'Are they not safe in the trunk?' I asked.

 

"'No;' he replied, 'suppose, during my absence, a thief should enter the house? You are confined to the bed by rheumatism. What resistance could you make?'

 

"'But that is very improbable,' I persisted.

 

"'I don't know about that. This is a lonely cottage, and might be entered at any time,' he rejoined.

 

"'Where are you going to put the bonds?' I asked uneasily,

 

"He evaded a reply, but promised to tell me when I recovered my health. I protested, for we were jointly concerned in the robbery, and half the proceeds belonged to me. At any rate, I had as much title to them as he. But the contest was not an equal one. Had I been a well man I would have forcibly prevented his carrying out his purpose, but what could I do, racked with pain as I was, and unable to sit up in bed? I was worse off then than I am now."

 

"So he carried off the bonds?"

 

"Yes, and I don't know where he carried them. You see, that complicates matters."

 

"I do see," answered Fred, perplexed, "and I don't see the way out of the difficulty. Have you any idea where he can have concealed the securities?"

 

"No."

 

"Do you think he would keep them in his room at the hotel? It is just across the hall from mine, on the second floor."

 

"No, I don't. A hotel room would be a much less secure place than this cottage, and Bowman is a shrewd man."

 

"That is true."

 

"He has probably found some outside place of concealment. Where, of course, I can give you no hint. But I would advise you to follow him, watch his movements, and learn what you can. He will be sure to visit the place where the bonds are hidden from time to time, if only to make sure that they are still safe."

 

"Then I shall have to do some detective work?"

 

"Precisely."

 

"I have read a good many detective stories, but I don't know that any of them will help me in this matter. There is one thing I am afraid of."

 

"What is that?"

 

"You say Bowman is a shrewd man. He will be lik............