"I should like to have you come home with me, Mr. Conway. Mother will confirm what I say." "I shall be glad to do so. Will your mother be alarmed?" "Yes, I think she will; but you can make things clear to her." Mrs. Barton was indeed startled when she learned that Bert had been charged with theft, but after a free talk with Mr. Conway she felt much relieved. "Your defence is perfect, I think," said the young lawyer. "Of course Mr. Jones or his lawyer may claim that you wrote the letter yourself." "Will it be necessary to send to Uncle Jacob and get him to testify?" "I don't think so. I think your defence will be complete without it. There is another point of considerable importance which I shall look up to-night. If things turn out as I suspect they will, we shall not need to disturb your Uncle Jacob." At nine o'clock Mr. Conway took his leave and returned to the hotel. He had a short conference with the landlord, which was evidently satisfactory. "I think we shall prove too many for Mr. Jones," he murmured softly, as he went up to bed. CHAPTER XIII. PERCY GETS RID OF THE BILL. When Percy Marlowe left the grocery store with the stolen bill in his hand, he was tremulous with excitement and agitation. He felt that he had committed a crime, and he was almost tempted to go back and replace the money. But it was possible that its loss had already been discovered, and he might be connected with it. He felt that it would be safe to get as far away as possible from the store. "Nobody will suspect me," he said to himself, plucking up courage. Then there was the pleasant thought that he could pay up his debt to Reginald Ward, and have ten dollars left over. It would be very comfortable to have ten dollars to spend, and Percy, whose conscience was not sensitive, began to consider what would be the pleasantest way of disposing of it. He soon came to a decision on this point, having, like most boys, rather a talent for spending money. "I'll go round by the hotel," he said to himself, "and if I find Reg there I'll pay him what I owe him and get it off my mind." Percy walked around to the Lake House, and found Reginald Ward in the billiard room. Ward treated him rather coldly. "Good-morning, Percy," he said. "Good-morning, Reg." "I hope you have come prepared to pay me what you owe me. I may have to go back to New York to-morrow." "I wish he would," thought Percy. "Then, if there's any trouble about this money, he will be well out of the way, and nobody can find out about it." "I can pay you to-night," said Percy. "You can? You're a trump!" said Reginald, in gratified surprise. "Suppose we go up to your room," went on Percy nervously, "and don't talk about it here. I don't want anybody to know that I am owing you any money." "I understand. The governor wouldn't like it, hey?" "No, he'd be awful mad." "Follow me, then, Percy," and Ward led the way up to his room. "Lock the door," said Percy.