?" exclaimed Bab, much surprised and
re-assured.

"Come on purpose to see him. Just strolling round till he gets back,"
with an impatient sort of sigh.

"Betty thought you was a tramp, but I wasn't afraid. I like tramps ever
since Ben came," explained Bab, with her usual candor.

"Who's Ben?" and the man came nearer so quickly that Betty nearly fell
backward. "Don't you be scared, Sissy. I like little girls, so you set
easy and tell me about Ben," he added, in a persuasive tone, as he
leaned on the gate, so near that both could see what a friendly face he
had in spite of its eager, anxious look.

"Ben is Miss Celia's boy. We found him almost starved in the
coach-house, and he's been living near here ever since," answered Bab,
comprehensively.

"Tell me all about it. I like tramps too," and the man looked as if he
did, very much, as Bab told the little story in a few childish words
that were better than a much more elegant account.

"You were very good to the little feller," was all the man said when she
ended her somewhat confused tale, in which she had jumbled the old coach
and Miss Celia, dinner-pails and nutting, Sancho and circuses.

"Course we were! He's a nice boy and we are fond of him, and he likes
us," said Bab, heartily.

"'Specially me," put in Betty, quite at ease now, for the black eyes had
softened wonderfully, and the brown face was smiling all over.

"Don't wonder a mite. You are the nicest pair of little girls I've seen
this long time," and the man put a hand on either side of them, as if he
wanted to hug the chubby children. But he didn't do it; he merely rubbed
his hands and stood there asking questions till the two chatter-boxes
had told him everything there was to tell, in the most confiding manner,
for he very soon ceased to seem like a stranger, and looked so familiar
that Bab, growing inquisitive in her turn, suddenly said:

"Haven't you ever been here before? It seems as if I'd seen you."

"Never in my life. Guess you've seen somebody that looks like me," and
the black eyes twinkled for a minute as they looked into the puzzled
little faces before him. Then he said, soberly:

"I'm looking round for a likely boy; don't you think this Ben would suit
me? I want just such a lively sort of chap."

"Are you a circus man?" asked Bab, quickly.

"Well, no, not now. I'm in better business."

"I'm glad of it--_we_ don't approve of 'em; but I do think they're
splendid!"

Bab began by grav