he felt a desire to
possess them. They would not be his, to be sure, but merely to have
them under his control seemed pleasant. So he said:

"Friend Barclay, I should need time to consider that question. Are
you in a hurry?"

"I should like to get the money out of my possession. I might lose it
or have it stolen. Besides, I don't want my wife to discover that I
have it."

"It might make her extravagant, perhaps," suggested the squire.

"No, I am not afraid of that; but I want some day to surprise her by
letting her see that I am a richer man than she thinks."

"Very judicious! Then no one knows that you have the money?"

"No one; I keep my business to myself."

"You are a wise man. I'll tell you what I will do, friend Barclay.
While I am not prepared to recommend any particular investment, I will
take the money and give you my note for it, agreeing to pay six per
cent. interest. Of course I shall invest it in some way, and I may
gain or I may lose, but even if I do lose you will be safe, for you
will have my note, and will receive interest semi-annually."

The proposal struck Mr. Barclay quite favorably.

"I suppose I can have the money when I want it again?" he inquired.

"Oh, certainly! I may require a month's notice to realize on
securities; but if I have the money in bank I won't even ask that."

"Then take the money, squire, and give me the note."

So, in less than five minutes, the money found its way into Squire
Davenport's strong box, and Mr. Barclay left the squire's presence
well satisfied with his note of hand in place of his roll of
greenbacks.

Nearly two years passed. Interest was paid punctually three times,
and another payment was all but due when the unfortunate creditor died
in Chicago. Then it was that a terrible temptation assailed Squire
Davenport. No one knew of the trust his neighbor had reposed in
him--not even his wife. Of course, if the note was found in his
pocket, all would be known. But perhaps it would not be known. In
that case, the thousand dollars and thirty dollars interest might be
retained without anyone being the wiser.

It is only fair to say that Squire Davenport's face flushed with shame
as the unworthy thought came to him, but still he did not banish it.
He thought the matter over, and the more he thought the more unwilling
he was to give up this sum, which all at once had become dearer to him
than all the rest of his possessions.

"I'll wait to