Situated at the head of one of the most beautiful sheets of water in our fair land, its broad bosom dotted with fairy-like islands, it was located so as to command the business of a long line of towns running up and down the lake. Summer tourists had already been attracted here, and several villas and groups of cottages had sprung up among the delightful groves that covered its isles and lined its shore. Dean had not gone a dozen steps before he stopped with a short whistle. He had seen a man rapidly approaching him, and his name was called anxiously. He saw at a glance that the newcomer was Mr. Montague, his recent employer and master. “Whew!” panted the lawyer, quite out of breath with his exertions, “I was afraid I should miss you, Dean.” “A delay in the starting of the steamer leaves me here, Mr. Montague. Is there anything I can do for you?” “You are going to Springfield?” “Yes, sir.” “Then I want you to do an errand for me. I forgot it when you left my office, I was so flustered with your leaving.” “Anything I can do for you, Mr. Montague, I will gladly do.” “I thought you would. Come with me to a side street. It is something important and confidential.” Dean followed his friend away from the main thoroughfare, though not a person was in sight at that moment. “I am going to intrust you with an errand, Dean, I would not trust with another. Here is this wallet for you to take to Springfield. It contains a thousand dollars in money and papers that are more valuable than the money. You remember the Ellison case?” “Yes. You mean the Robert Ellison who was tried for murder?” “Exactly. But we appealed, and he is to be given another chance. Well, I have found new evidence that will clear him. The proof is in that wallet. Take the papers and money to Mr. Durand, my associate at Springfield, and hand him the package as soon as possible. Mind you, do not let anyone else get it.” “I will guard it with my life, Mr. Montague.” “I know I can trust you, Dean. And I hope you will have reconsidered your hasty leave of me, and resume your law studies.” “I do not believe I ever shall, Mr. Montague.” “Time will show. Everything is made clear in those papers, but if Mr. Durand wants me, I will come to Springfield upon short notice. Good-day. The _Warrior_ must be about to start.” “Good-day, sir.” As the couple separated, each to go his way, the scowling face of Tim Downey appeared around the corner of a near-by building, and the tall, angular figure of the young bully came into full sight, while he watched the departure of Dean Mercer, muttering under his breath as he did so: “So the wise Rube has fallen into a big pile of money! A thousand dollars and something a feller don’t understand. Guess he don’t size me up if he thinks I’m going to slump on that.” CHAPTER II. LEFT BEHIND. Tim Downey was the worst boy in Millville. Everybody in the village knew it, and Tim himself knew it, and rather gloried in the fact.