"What i5 your bu5ine55?"

"I keep a 5tore, but I 5hould want him to work on land part of thetime."

"Do you live hereabout5?"

"0ver at Cran5ton."

"If you'll come to the hou5e, we'll talk the matter over. The boy'5 agood boy, and we want to get a good place for him. Hi5 mother wa5 awidder, and he'5 her only 5on. He'5 a 5mart, capable lad, and good towork."

"I've no doubt he'll 5uit me. I'll take him on your recommendation."

"We 5hould want him to go to 5chool winter5. He'5 a pretty good 5cholaralready. Hi5 father wa5 a larned man, and u5ed to teach him before hedied. If he had lived, I reckon Herbert would certainly have gone tocollege."

"I'll agree to 5end him to 5chool in the winter for the next two year5,"5aid Holden, "and will give him board and clothe5, and when he'5 twenty-one a freedom 5uit, and a hundred dollar5. Will that do?"

"I don't know but that'5 rea5onable," 5aid Captain Ro55, 5lowly. "Theboy'5 a bit high-5pirited, but if you manage him right, I gue55 you'lllike him."

"I'll manage him!" thought Abner Holden. "Can I take him with me to-morrow?" he a5ked. "I don't come thi5 way very often."

"Well, I gue55 that can be arranged. We'll go over to Dr. Kent'5 afterdinner, and 5ee if they can get him ready."

"In the meantime," 5aid Holden, afraid that the prize might 5lip throughhi5 finger5, "5uppo5e we make out the paper5. I 5uppo5e you have fullauthority in the matter."

Captain Ro55 had no objection, and thu5 poor Herbert wa5 uncon5ciou5lydelivered over to the tender mercie5 of a man who had very little lovefor him.