ess letter."

Carl was quietly amused at Leonard's skillful questions, but was
determined not to give him any light on the subject.

Leonard tried another avenue of attack.

"Oh, dear!" he sighed, "I wish I was rich."

"I shouldn't mind being rich myself," said Carl, with a smile.

"I suppose old Jennings must have a lot of money."

"Mr. Jennings, I presume, is very well off," responded Carl, emphasizing
the title "Mr."

"If I had his money I wouldn't live in such Quaker style."

"Would you have him give fashionable parties?" asked Carl, smiling.

"Well, I don't know that he would enjoy that; but I'll tell you what
I would do. I would buy a fast horse--a two-forty mare--and a bangup
buggy, and I'd show the old farmers round here what fast driving is.
Then I'd have a stylish house, and----"

"I don't believe you'd be content to live in Milford, Leonard."

"I don't think I would, either, unless my business were here. I'd go to
New York every few weeks and see life."

"You may be rich some time, so that you can carry out your wishes."

"Do you know any easy way of getting money?" asked Leonard, pointedly.

"The easy ways are not generally the true ways. A man sometimes makes
money by speculation, but he has to have some to begin with."

"I can't get anything out of him," thought Leonard. "Well,
good-evening."

He crossed the street, and joined the man who has already been referred
to as boarding at the hotel.

Mr. Stark had now been several days in Milford. What brought him there,
or what object he had in staying, Leonard had not yet ascertained. He
generally spent part of his evenings with the stranger, and had once or
twice received from him a small sum of money. Usually, however, he
had met Mr. Stark in the billiard room, and played a game or two of
billiards with him. Mr. Stark always paid for the use of the table, and
that was naturally satisfactory to Leonard, who enjoyed amusement at the
expense of others.

Leonard, bearing in mind his uncle's request, had not mentioned his name
to Mr. Stark, and Stark, though he had walked about the village more or
less, had not chanced to meet Mr. Gibbon.

He had questioned Leonard, however, about Mr. Jennings, and whether he
was supposed to be rich.

Leonard had answered freely that everyone considered him so.

"But he doesn't know how to enjoy his money," he added.

"We should," said Stark, jocularly.

"You bet we would," returned Leonard; and he was