use?"

"No, major. Your offer is too small."

"You are quite at liberty to look around for a higher bid, or rather you
were. Now it is too late."

"Just so, major. On the whole I don't think I want to sell."

"'Don't want to sell'?" repeated the major, frowning; "you will have to
sell."

"Why will Uncle Job have to sell?" demanded Ben, irritated by the
major's tone.

"Young man," said the major, grandly, "this is not a matter with which
you have anything to do. Your uncle and I can arrange it between
ourselves."

"Still, I shall advise Uncle Job to pay the mortgage, though he was
swindled into agreeing to it."

"I apprehend," sneered the major, "he will have some difficulty in
paying me five hundred and fifteen dollars."

"I guess I can manage to do it, major," said Job, mildly.

"I don't believe you," said the major, hastily.

"Have you got the mortgage with you?" asked Job.

"Yes; here it is."

"And here is your money," said the shoemaker, producing the bills.

Major Sturgis received them in amazement bordering upon stupefaction,
and counted them over three times.

"I guess they're all right," said Job.

"Where did you get them?" inquired the major, unable to control his
curiosity.

"I guess that doesn't matter so long as they're good," answered Job.
"Still, I've no objection to tellin' you that it's Ben's money that he's
kindly lent to me."

"Did you bring this from California?" asked the major, turning to our
hero.

"Yes, sir," answered Ben.

"Have you any more?"

"I've got enough more, so that I don't expect to need the situation Sam
thought of offering me."

When Major Sturgis left the cottage his grand air had passed off, and he
looked disappointed and mortified. Sam's spirits, too, were perceptibly
dashed when he learned that the boy he disliked had been successful in
California.

"That settles the major," said Ben. "This afternoon I will see what I
can do in the case of Richmond."

"You can't do anything, Ben," said his aunt. "Leave him to the
reproaches of his own conscience."

"He hasn't got any conscience, Aunt Clarissa," said Ben.--"Jake, will
you ride over with me to the next town this afternoon?"

"I shall be glad to, Ben."

Ben went at once to the office of an able lawyer, engaged his services,
and put the matter into his hands. The result was, that John Richmond
received a note by messenger summoning him to the lawyer's office. He at
first tried to bluster, then to