ar,"
continued Stumpy, thoughtfully.

"Then don't mention it."

"I think I ought to tell you, Le, for the business concerns your
father."

"No matter whom it concerns, if the information don't belong to you,"
said Leopold. "If I hear my father and Jones talking about Smith in a
private way, I don't think I have any right to go and tell Smith what
they say. It makes trouble, and it's none of my business."

"I think you are right in the main, Le; but let me put the question in
another form. Suppose you heard two scallawags in your hotel talking
about setting my mother's house on fire; suppose you knew the plan they
had formed to burn the cottage; would you say it was none of your
business, because you happened to hear them, and the conversation was
not intended for your ears?"

"I don't believe I should say or think any such thing. These men would
be plotting to commit a crime and it would be my duty to tell you,"
replied Leopold.

"My sentiments exactly. A crime! That's just my opinion of what my
grandad is doing."

"If you think so, it is perfectly proper for you to let on."

"I do think so and I shall let on," added Stumpy. "As you said just now,
the interest on the mortgage note which your father owes Squire Moses
will be due on the first day of July; and that's only ten days ahead.
The squire thinks your father won't be able to raise the money, because
he has been to him to ask the old skin flint to let him up a little."

"Yes; I know all that," replied Leopold, sadly, for he dreaded the first
of July almost as a condemned convict dreads the day of execution.

"I went up to grandad's the other day, to carry his spectacles, which he
left on the table when he came to tell mother that she must move out on
the first of August. I wanted to give the spectacles into his own hands,
and to say a word to him about the place, if I got a chance. I went into
the kitchen, where the old man stays when he's in the house. He wasn't
there; but I heard his voice in the next room where he keeps his papers,
and I sat down to wait till he came out. There was no one in the kitchen
but myself, for the women folks had gone up stairs to make the beds."

"But whom was Squire Moses talking to?" asked Leopold, much interested.

"I was going to tell you all about it, Le; but I wanted to say, in the
first place, that I didn't go into the kitchen to listen, and I didn't
want to break in on the old man when he was busy. Squire Moses di