l, in a low but thrilling
voice; "if you have set your mind on using that hundred dollars to do a
good work, perhaps I might give you a hint where it would fit in mighty
well, and make your heart feel warm."

"Hey! wot's that, Paul? I don't understand," exclaimed the man.

"Down just beyond the outskirts of Stanhope there lives a poor widow
woman who, I'm told, is in danger of being put out of her home any day
now because she has been sick and unable to work so as to pay her rent.
If you went to her right now, Mr. Growdy, and put that wad of money in
her hand, I'm sure you'd never regret it, sir; and every boy here would
thank you just as much as if you paid for his uniform. Isn't that so,
fellows?"

A chorus of shouts testified to the fact that Paul had hit upon a popular
idea for turning the sudden generosity of the hitherto miserly old farmer
to account.

"Who is the woman?" asked Peleg Growdy uneasily.

"Mrs. Jenks, who has three little children to support. Her husband was
killed in that blast some years ago, and she never recovered a cent from
the mining company, for they burst like a bubble," returned Paul.

"By gum! wot d'ye know about that, now? I reckons as how she lives in one
o' my own cottages, which the real estate man, Stebbins, takes keer of
fur me. He was tellin' me about some tenant he'd have to put out; but I
never noticed more'n that the name was Jenks."

"But now?" ventured Paul.

"It won't be did! No, sir, not by a jugful. I got my team outside, an'
I'm goin' straight over to see the widder. I knowed her husband onct
too, an' I'm some 'shamed thet I didn't look her up afore," and Peleg
started for the door.

"Hold on, Mr. Growdy!" called Paul.

"Hey! wot's doin' now, boys?" demanded the old man, turning to grin again
at his new host of young friends.

"You oughtn't to leave here, sir, without giving every boy scout the
privilege of shaking hands with you. I'm sure I speak for each fellow
when I ask that favor," returned Paul, stepping forward.

Peleg was agreeable, though he blushed like a schoolboy as the scouts,
forming in line, walked past him, each seizing his horny hand eagerly,
and doing his best to make the old farmer wince with the warmth of his
squeeze.

They gave him a parting cheer as he passed out, and the old fellow tried
to return the military salute to the best of his ability.

"Well, what do you think of that?" asked Nuthin', when they were once
more gathered around