ds," said Mr. Dobson persuasively, "I really think you'd
better make the effort to pay now, and so avoid the heavy interest."

"Perhaps," said Ben, "you'll tell us how to pay without money?"

"You might borrow it."

"All right! I am willing. Mr. Dobson will you be kind enough to lend
us twelve dollars to meet this bill?"

Mr. Dobson's face changed. It always did when any one proposed to
borrow money of him, for he was what people called a "close" man.

"I really couldn't do it," he answered. "Money's very scarce with
me--particularly scarce. It's all I can do to pay my own taxes."

Ben smiled to himself, for he knew how the application would be answered.

"Then of course we can't pay at present," he said. "We've tried to
borrow, and can't."

"I didn't expect you'd try to borrow of me--the tax collector," said
Dobson; "even if I had the money, it would be very unprofessional
of me to lend you the money."

"It would be very unprofessional of us to pay you without money,"
returned Ben.

"I suppose I must call again," said the collector, disappointed.

He was disappointed less for the city than for his own account, for he
received a percentage on taxes collected.

"I suppose you must."

"Benjamin, this is awful," said Mrs. Bradford piteously, after Mr.
Dobson had retired. "What is going to become of us? The city will
sell the house for taxes."

"They'll wait a year first, at any rate, Aunt Jane; so we won't fret
about it yet. There are other things more pressing."

"If we don't get some money within a day or two, we must starve,
Benjamin."

"Something may turn up this afternoon, Aunt Jane. Wait and hope!"

Ben put on his hat and went out. In spite of his cheerful answer, he
felt rather sober himself.

Chapter VII

Ben Gets Employment

When Ben got out into the street, he set himself to consider where he
could apply for employment. As far as he knew, he had inquired at
every store in Milltown if a boy was wanted, only to be answered in
the negative, sometimes kindly, other times roughly. At the factory,
too, he had ascertained that there was no immediate prospect of his
being taken on again.

"It's a hard case," thought Ben, "when a fellow wants to work, and
needs the money, and can find no opening anywhere."

It was a hard case; but Ben was by no means the only one so
situated. It may be said of him, at all events, that he deserved to
succeed, for he left no stone unturned t