ers."

"I will stand by you, Mr. Tucker," said Squire Pope cordially, for the
man's flattery, coarse as it was, had been like incense to his vanity.
"I will stand by you, and uphold you by my testimony."

"Thank you, squire. With such an impartial advocate I will continue to
do my duty and fear nothing."

As Squire Pope left the almshouse, Mr. Tucker winked at himself in the
glass, and said quizzically:

"I guess I'm all right now. The vain old fool thinks he's a second
Solomon, and thinks I regard him as such. Oh, it takes me to get round
him!"

Squire Pope wrote an elaborate report, in which he stated that, after
searching investigation, he had ascertained that the complaints of Ann
Carter were absolutely groundless, and gave it as his conviction
that Mr. Tucker's treatment of her and her associate paupers was
characterized by remarkable consideration and humanity.

Such officials as he have much to answer for, and yet there are plenty
just as false to their responsibilities as he.

It was two days after Squire Pope's ineffectual attempt to possess
himself of Philip's violin, that our hero was walking along a country
road, on his return from an errand which, he had undertaken for his
friend's father, when his attention was drawn to the yelping of a small
dog, that seemed in fear or pain.

Looking over the stone wall, Philip saw Zeke Tucker amusing himself
by thrusting the dog's head into a pool of dirty water, and holding it
there till the animal was nearly strangled. The dog's suffering appeared
to yield the most exquisite amusement to the boy, who burst into peal
after peal of rude laughter as he watched the struggles of his victim.

Philip, like every decent boy, had a horror of cruelty, and the sight
stirred him to immediate anger and disgust.

"What are you doing there, Zeke Tucker?" he demanded sternly.

"None of your business!" answered Zeke, frowning.

"You'd better answer my question," said Philip, who had by this time
jumped over the wall.

"Then I will. I'm havin' a little fun. What have you got to say about
it?" retorted Zeke.

And once more he plunged the head of the poor dog into the filthy pool.

The next moment he found himself floundering on his back, while the dog,
slipping from his grasp, was running across the meadows. "What did you
do that for!" demanded Zeke, springing up, his face flaming with rage.

"I rather think you understand well enough," answered Philip
contemptuously.