"Yes; he picked it up by the roadside. It was directed in pencil to Mr. Jones. So that contained the stolen bill?" "Yes." "Then perhaps it was taken in joke." "A poor joke! No; the thief got alarmed, and took that way of returning it. I suggested to Jones that the handwriting on the envelope might furnish a clew to the thief." "What did he say?" asked Percy, alarmed. "He said he should do nothing about it, now that he had the money back." "I guess he's right," said Percy, relieved. In the afternoon Bert met Percy in the street. He advanced cordially. "Well, Percy, I got free, after all." "Yes, I am glad of it." "I feel grateful to you for believing in my innocence." "It's all right," said Percy, in a patronizing tone. "Even if you are a working boy, I was sure you wouldn't steal." Bert's feelings cooled a little. Somehow Percy's manner kept him aloof. "Yes, I am a working boy," he replied, "or at any rate I would like to be, but I don't find it easy to get work." "Just so! If I hear of anything I will let you know. Good-morning!" "I don't know what to make of Percy," thought Bert, perplexed. "He was as kind as he could be this morning, and now he is offish. At any rate, he didn't believe me guilty, and I won't forget that in a hurry." Two more weeks passed, and Bert still found himself unable to find employment. Berries had become so plenty that he was unable to sell any, and only picked some for consumption at home. The sum of money which had been received from Uncle Jacob gradually dwindled, and Bert became alarmed. What would they do when it was all gone? He had no doubt that Uncle Jacob would give them further assistance, if appealed to, but both he and his mother felt that it would be an imposition on the old man, with his limited fund of money, to ask anything more of him. "I don't want any more of Uncle Jacob's money, mother," said Bert; "but I should like to ask him if he could find me a place in New York." "I couldn't bear to have you leave me, Bert." "But I must take work wherever I can find it." So Bert with his mother's permission, wrote to Uncle Jacob, informing him of his discharge from the factory, and his desire to obtain work elsewhere. This letter reached Jacob Marlowe, and led to his writing as follows to the squire: NEPHEW ALBERT: I hear by a letter from Lakeville that you have discharged Bert Barton from your employment, and that he cannot secure any other kind of work. I am surprised that you should treat Mary's boy in this manner, considering the relationship that exists between you. I appeal to your better nature to reinstate him in his old place. I can assure you that you will have no cause to regret it. I have steady work here, and am quite well satisfied with my position and prospects. JACOB MARLOWE.