By the time they reached the depot Glidden had given Ralph final detailed instructions. He did not know how his messenger might find affairs at Derby, but he seemed to take a good deal of comfort in believing that if they were at all complicated, Ralph's dexterity and intelligence would simplify the problem. "Tell the lawyer I will be certain to reach Derby on the first morning train with the money," declared Glidden. "Stay with him all night and watch things. Keep your eye on the other crowd and guard the factory." "I shall try to do all you suggest," promised Ralph. He telephoned to his mother at home. It was a three hours' ride to Derby. Ralph reached his destination about five o'clock in the afternoon. He went to the office of the lawyer, located above a store, but found its door locked. Then he inquired in the place below as to his residence and received the necessary directions. As Ralph left the store he noticed a crowd of four men lounging in front of a drinking place across the street. From their manner he judged that they had watched him go up to the office of the lawyer. Why they were interested Ralph did not know, but he kept a keen eye out, remembering that he carried a thousand dollars in an inner pocket of his coat. "Two of those men are following me," Ralph said to himself with conviction, a minute later. This he believed to be true, judging from their actions. They kept pace with him on the opposite side of the street. Ralph gave no sign that he suspected their surveillance. Suddenly as the two men were crossing the street, a lank, wretched looking fellow came towards them from the doorway of a saloon. It was apparent that he knew them and made some appeal to them. One of them brushed him carelessly aside. As the other passed him the mendicant caught his sleeve to detain him. The man turned, jerked away, shot out his fist, and striking the other brutally in the face sent him prostrate to the pavement and walked coolly on. "Poor fellow!" commented Ralph, as the man picked himself up, wiping the blood from his injured face with an old ragged handkerchief. "That's the way you treat an old friend after getting all you can out of him, is it?" shrieked the injured man, waving his fists wildly after his assailant. "I'll fix you for this. I'll get even with you." The incident passed out of Ralph's mind as he sought for and found the home of the lawyer. As he entered its gate he glanced back down the street. The two men who had followed him stood at the next corner. Soon they turned and retraced the way they had come. Apparently they were satisfied in the proceedings, their mission having been to locate Ralph's destination. Ralph found the wife of the lawyer at home. It took only a few minutes for a bright businesslike boy and a woman who interested herself in her husband's professional duties to understand one another. Ralph explained the object of his call.