He was not wholly to blame for this, as his mother encouraged him in hopes which had no basis except in his own and her wishes.
Not quite three weeks after Ben had become established his new home he received a letter which mystified and excited him.
It ran thus: "If you will come at nine o'clock this evening to No.

---- West Thirty-first Street, and call for me, you will hear something to your advantage.
James Barnes." "It may be something relating to my father's affairs," thought Ben.
"I will go.".