After a brief interval Dr. Sampson wheeled round in his office chair.

"I have a letter for you from your guardian, Ropes," he said. "Here it
is. Do me the favor to read it here."

With some wonder Rodney took the letter and read as follows:


DEAR RODNEY--I have bad news to communicate. As you know, I was left by
your father in charge of you and your fortune. I have never told you
the amount, but I will say now that it was about fifty thousand dollars.
Until two years since I kept it intact but then began a series of
reverses in which my own fortune was swallowed up. In the hope of
relieving myself I regret to say that I was tempted to use your money.
That went also, and now of the whole sum there remains but enough to
pay the balance of your school bills, leaving you penniless. How much I
regret this I cannot tell you. I shall leave New York at once. I do not
care at present to say where I shall go, but I shall try to make good
the loss, and eventually restore to you your lost fortune. I may be
successful or I may not. I shall do my best and I hope in time to have
better news to communicate.

One thing I am glad to say. I have a casket containing your mother's
jewels. These are intact. I shall send you the casket by express,
knowing that you will wish to keep them out of regard for your mother's
memory. In case you are reduced to the necessity of pawning or selling
them, I am sure that your mother, could she be consulted, would advise
you to do so. This would be better than to have you suffer from want.