"Refused money on all sides, there was nothing left for him to do and he was forced into bankruptcy." In silence Fred digested the story for several minutes. "I don't see how they can call father dishonest for that. He certainly wouldn't change the deed," he said finally. "That is the part I don't understand. They said your father had some money on deposit in the Baxter National Bank, which had been withdrawn before Mr. Montgomery could attach it." "They mean father is hiding this money?" "Yes." "But why shouldn't he withdraw it?" "The law says a bankrupt must not dispose of nor conceal any property from his creditors." "What does father say?" "That he never signed the check on which the money was paid." "Then he never did!" asserted Fred emphatically. "I'll bet Charles Gibbs and Thomas Montgomery are mixed up both in the deed and the check transaction." "Hush, dear, you mustn't say such things! Both your father and I believe as you do, but Mr. Montgomery is so powerful we can do nothing, unless we have absolute proof," exclaimed Mrs. Markham, looking anxiously about in fear that some one might have entered and heard the remark. "Don't worry, mother," exclaimed Fred, jumping from his chair and running to her, as he saw the tears fall on her cheek when she finished the story, "I'll get the proof!" CHAPTER VII MRS. MARKHAM'S RUSE As Fred uttered the manly words, his mother raised her tear-stained face, the light of hope shining in her eyes, threw her arms about him and, her head resting on his shoulder, murmured, between her sobs: "Oh, if you only could, my boy!" "I will find the proof, if there is any," asserted Fred confidently, "so cheer up, Momsy." This sharing of his parents' burden seemed to Fred to draw him nearer to them, and in this closer understanding he and his mother talked matters over, during the course of which the clash with Bart, the drawing of the desks and the joke with the cheese were related. At the recounting of Bart's rudeness in refusing to occupy the desk he had drawn, Mrs. Markham exclaimed: "There is no saying so true, my son, as that gentleness is bred in the bone. Gentle birth is a thing no money can buy. So long as it was a Montgomery who was so insolent, I am glad that it was a Markham who made amends. You must bring Bronson to the house." Further confidences between mother and son were prevented, however, by a loud rap on the side door--which opened into the dining room--followed immediately by the entrance of a tall figure. "How do you do, Mrs. Markham? Ready, Fred?" came from the newcomer. "Sandow Hill, you'll scare the life out of me some day, coming in so suddenly," cried Mrs. Markham, as she recognized the boy who had entered so unceremoniously. "I hope not, but I am so in the habit of running in here I almost forgot to knock. You should give me credit for that, at least."