"Do you remember signing a paper?" asked the justice.

"Yes," said Charlie; "but it was an old dingy-looking one--we didn't
read it--I just signed it for fun."

"I told Charlie to put your name to it," broke in Rex, eagerly. "Is
anything wrong, papa?"

"I will tell you the story and you shall judge for yourself," said the
justice, smiling. "As it happened, the paper Charlie signed was not an
old one. It was in reference to removing an orphan boy from one
guardianship to another. He is about as old as Charlie, and it appears
that the first guardian ill-treated the little fellow under the guise
of kindness, being only intent on gain. When the paper which 'his
ludship,'" with a deep bow in Charlie's direction--"signed arrived, the
boy was delighted, and he thoroughly enjoys the excellent home he is
now in. Imagine my surprise when a letter reached me thanking me for
my wise decision. I could not understand it, as I thought I knew the
paper in reference to it was lying on my desk waiting its turn. You
may well laugh, you young rogues."

"How did you find out?" asked Charlie, divided between contrition and a
desire to enjoy the joke.

"Jarvis and I traced it out. I paid a visit to Wales and put the
signature of the original Barrington to the document. The present
guardian of the boy declares the little fellow's disposition would have
been completely ruined if he had remained much longer under his former
guardian's care, and I am afraid, in the ordinary course of the law,
which moves slowly, it would have been some time before the matter