" I think Johnny believes what he says —
don't you, Johnny ? " he smiled with an
assumption of cheerful ease, " but I see no
necessity just yet for binding Seth Davis
over to keep the peace. Tell me about
yourself, Eupe. I hope Uncle Ben does n't
think of changing his young tutor with his
good fortune ? "

" No, sir," returned Rupert brightening ;
" he promises to take me to Sacramento with
him as his private secretary or confidential
clerk, you know, ef — ef " — he hesitated
again with very un-Bupert-like caution, " ef
things go as he wants 'em." He stopped
awkwardly and his brown eyes became
clouded. " Like ez not, Mr. Ford, he 's
only foolin' me — and — himself." The
boy's eyes sought the master's curiously.
" I don't know about that," returned Mr.
Ford uneasily, with a certain recollection of
Uncle Ben's triumph over his own incredu-
lity ; " he surely has n't shown himself a fool
or a boaster so far. I consider your pros-
pect a very fair one, and I wish you joy of
it, my boy." He ran his fingers through
Rupert's curls in his old caressing fashion,



212 csEssr.
the more tenderly perhaps that he fancied
he still saw symptoms of stormy and wet
weather in the boy's brown eyes. " Run
along home, both of you, and don't worry
yourselves about me."

He turned away, but had scarcely pro-
ceeded half a dozen yards before he felt a
tug at his coat. Looking down he saw the
diminutive Johnny. "They '11 be comin'
home thith way," he said, reaching up in a
hoarse confidential whisper.
