ve been robbing Mr. Crawford, I am afraid, Ben."

"The young gentleman evidently uses his hat for a market-basket,"
proceeded the professor. "Rather a strange taste, but this is a free
country. But what have we here?"

Out came a pair of stockings, a napkin and a necktie.

"Very convenient to carry your wardrobe about with you," said the
professor, "though it is rather curious taste to put them with
vegetables. But here is something else," and the magician produced a
small kitten, who regarded the audience with startled eyes and uttered
a timid moan.

"Oh, Ben! let me have that pretty kitten," said Rose.

"It's none of mine!" said Ben, half annoyed, half amused.

"I believe there is nothing more," said the professor.

He carried back the hat to Ben, and gave it to him with the remark:

"Young man, you may call for your vegetables and other articles after
the entertainment."

"You are welcome to them," said Ben.

"Thank you; you are very liberal."

When at length the performance was over, Ben and Rose moved toward the
door. As Rose reached the outer door, a boy about Ben's age, but
considerably better dressed, stepped up to her and said, with a
consequential air:

"I will see you home, Miss Gardiner."

"Much obliged, Mr. Davenport," said Rose, "but I have accepted Ben's
escort."

CHAPTER VI
TWO YOUNG RIVALS

Tom Davenport, for it was the son of Squire Davenport who had offered
his escort to Rose, glanced superciliously at our hero.

"I congratulate you on having secured a grocer's boy as escort," he
said in a tone of annoyance.

Ben's fist contracted, and he longed to give the pretentious
aristocrat a lesson, but he had the good sense to wait for the young
lady's reply.

"I accept your congratulations, Mr. Davenport," said Rose coldly. "I
have no desire to change my escort."

Tom Davenport laughed derisively, and walked away.

"I'd like to box his ears," said Ben, reddening.

"He doesn't deserve your notice, Ben," said Rose, taking his arm.

But Ben was not easily appeased.

"Just because his father is a rich man," he resumed.

"He presumes upon it," interrupted Rose, good-naturedly. "Well, let
him. That's his chief claim to consideration, and it is natural for
him to make the most of it."

"At any rate, I hope that can't be said of me," returned Ben, his brow
clearing. "If I had nothing but money to be proud of, I should be
very poorly off."

"You wouldn't object to i