r
informing me that you had been raised to fifteen dollars a week gave
me much pleasure. I wanted to tell Conrad, only you didn't wish to
have me. He is getting prouder and more disagreeable every day. He
really seems to have a great spite against you, though I cannot
understand why.

"I met him the other day, and he inquired after you. 'He hasn't been
to Arden lately,' he said.

"'No,' I answered, 'he is too busy.'

"'Probably he can't afford the railway fare,' said Conrad.

"'I think he is getting good pay,' I said.

"'I know better. He isn't getting over six dollars at most,' said
Conrad.

"'Did he tell you so?' I asked.

"'No, but I heard on good authority,' he replied.

"'I wish I were getting that,' I said.

"'You wouldn't want to live on it,' he rejoined.

"'Well, perhaps not,' I admitted.

"'He won't long have a home to come back to,' said Conrad, after a
pause.

"'Why not?' I inquired.

"'My father holds a mortgage on his father's farm, and it will fall
due in three months,' he answered.

"'Surely he won't foreclose?'

"'Surely he will,' returned Conrad. 'Old Grant will have to leave
the farm and go to the poorhouse, or, at any rate, to some small
place like the Sam Martin house. It contains four rooms, and is good
enough for a bankrupt.'

"This made me uneasy. I hope, Andy, you will find some friend who
will be able and willing to advance money to pay the mortgage when
it falls due. I hear Squire Carter is treating with a city man to
buy the place. He evidently feels sure that it will come into his
possession."

When Andy read this portion of the letter he smiled.

"I suspect Conrad and his father will be disappointed," he said to
himself. "The city man will have to look elsewhere for an investment."

One day Andy had a pleasant surprise. Just in front of him on Broadway
he saw a figure that looked familiar.

The tall, bent form, and long white hair he recognized at once as
belonging to Dr. Crabb, the principal of Penhurst Academy.

He pressed forward.

"Dr. Crabb!" he exclaimed. "It is long since we have met. I hope you are
well."

Dr. Crabb surveyed him with a puzzled look; Andy had grown so much that
he could not place him.

"I suppose you are one of my old pupils," he said, "but I shall have to
ask your name."

"Don't you remember Andy Grant?"