"What is the date of your bonds, mother?" he asked. "I don't know. Does that make any difference?" "It makes some difference. Those that have longest to run are most valuable." "I can easily tell," said the housekeeper, as she rose from her chair and opened the bureau drawer, in full confidence that the bonds were safe. It was an exciting moment for Willis Ford, knowing the sad discovery that awaited her. She put her hand in that part of the drawer where she supposed the bonds to be, and found nothing. A shade of anxiety overspread her face, and she searched hurriedly in other parts of the drawer. "Don't you find them, mother?" asked Willis. "It is very strange," said Mrs. Estabrook, half to herself. "What is strange?" "I always kept the bonds in the right-hand corner of this drawer." "And you can't find them?" "I have looked all over the drawer." "You may have put them, by mistake, in one of the other drawers." "Heaven grant it!" said Mrs. Estabrook, her face white with anxiety. "Let me help you, mother," said Willis, rising. She did not object, for her hands trembled with nervousness. The other drawers were opened and were thoroughly searched, but, of course, the bonds were not found. Mrs. Estabrook seemed near fainting. "I have been robbed," she said. "I am ruined." "But who could have robbed you?" asked Ford, innocently. "I-don't-know. Oh, Willis! it was cruel!" and the poor woman burst into tears. "All these years I have been saving, and now I have lost all. I shall die in the poorhouse after all."