mean, Prudence?" said Uncle Abimelech again. He was
quivering with wrath, but I was as cool as a cucumber, and Murray
stood like a graven image.

"Why, that, Uncle Abimelech," I said calmly, "well, it just means one
of my ways of making money. That liniment company pays for those
testimonials and photos, you know. They gave me fifty dollars for the
privilege of publishing them. Fifty dollars will pay for books and
tuition for Murray and me at Kentville Academy next winter, and Mrs.
Tredgold is kind enough to say she will board me for what help I can
give her around the house, and wait for Murray's until he can earn it
by teaching."

I rattled all this off glibly before Uncle Abimelech could get in a
word.

"It's disgraceful!" he stormed. "Disgraceful! Think of Sir Roger de
Melville--and a patent medicine advertisement! Murray Melville, what
were you about, sir, to let your sister disgrace herself and her
family name by such an outrageous transaction?"

I quaked a bit. If Murray should fail me! But Murray was true-blue.

"I gave Prue a free hand, sir. It's an honest business transaction
enough--and the family name alone won't send us to college, you know,
sir."

Uncle Abimelech glared at us.

"This must be put an end to," he said. "This advertisement must not
appear again. I won't have it!"

"But I've signed a contract that it is to run for six months," I said
sturdily. "And I've others in view. You remember the Herb Cure you
recommended one spring and that it did me so much good! I'm
negotiating with the makers of that and--"

"The girl's mad!" said Uncle Abimelech. "Stark, staring mad!"

"Oh, no, I'm not, Uncle Abimelech. I'm merely a pretty good
businesswoman. You won't help Murray to go to college, so I must. This
is the only way I have, and I'm going to see it through."

After Uncle Abimelech had gone, still in a towering rage, Murray
remonstrated. But I reminded him of his promise and he had to succumb.

Next day Uncle Abimelech returned--a subdued and chastened Uncle
Abimelech.

"See here, Prue," he said sternly. "This thing must be stopped. I say
it _must_. I am not going to have the name of Melville dragged all
over the country in a patent medicine advertisement. You've played
your game and won it--take what comfort you can out of the confession:
If you will agree to cancel this notorious contract of yours I'll
settle it with the company--and I'll put Murray through college--and
you too if you