apiece. What do you say to that?"

"Is it possible mining shares rise in value so fast?" asked Kit in
amazement.

"Well, sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't. Often it's the other
way, and I don't advise you or anybody else that knows nothing about it
to speculate in mining shares. It is a risky thing, and you are more apt
to lose than to win. However, this turned out O. K., and you are worth
five thousand dollars to-day, my boy."

"I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Miller," said Kit. "I can't seem to
realize it."

"You needn't thank me at all. I did it for your father's sake, but now
that I know you I am glad to do it for your own. When we get to New York
I advise you to salt it down in government bonds, or in some other good
reliable stock."

"I shall be glad to follow your advice, Mr. Miller."

"Then I'll invest all but five hundred dollars, for you may want to use
that. What sort of a season have you had?"

"I've saved up four hundred dollars," said Kit proudly.

"You don't say so! You must have got pretty good pay."

"Twenty-five dollars a week."

"Your uncle said you probably got two or three dollars a week."

"He probably thought so. He has no idea I have been so well paid. I
chose to keep it from him."

"You said you wanted to ask my advice about something."

"Yes, sir."

"Why not come round to the Delavan and take a room? I am staying there,
and I will tell the clerk to pick you out a room next to mine."

"I will do so. I intended to stay at some hotel to night. This is the
last night of the circus. To-morrow we close up, and separate. I shall
draw my money and bid good-by to my circus friends."

"I am glad of that. We will keep together. I have neither chick nor
child, Kit, and if you'll accept me as your guardian I'll do the best I
can for you. But perhaps you prefer to go back to your uncle."

Kit shook his head.

"I should never do that," he said, "especially after what I have learned
during my trip."

"Let it keep till to-morrow, for we are both tired. Now get ready and
we'll go to the Delavan."

Kit was assigned a nice room next to Mr. Miller, where he passed a
comfortable night.

The next day he revealed to his new friend the discoveries he had made
in his uncle's old home in Pennsylvania--his uncle's poverty up to the
time of his brother's death, and the evident falseness of his claim to
have lent him large sums of money, in payment of which he had coolly
appropriated