t at home, you know," he replied.

He could see the sneer upon Ferd's lip, for that young man had never
earned one cent in all his life, and foolishly looked down upon the
unfortunate boy whom fortune compelled to face the world and wrest his
living from it.

"I was thinking of you when I heard my governor say he wanted more help.
Perhaps you might strike a job there. I'll even put in a good word for
you to-night. Of course you understand that I'm not doing this because I
like you any better than before, but you did me a half decent turn
yesterday, and I'm not the one to forget it. Besides I don't want to see
a dog starve if I can help him by raising my hand. Come around and see
the old man to-morrow, and perhaps he'll offer you something."

The cool patronizing manner of the fellow when he said this galled Dick
exceedingly, and had it been only himself whom he had to consider he
would have snapped his fingers in Ferd's face.

But then he reflected that the other was doing him what he considered a
very great favor, and that of late he had had that old saying to the
effect that "beggars should not be choosers" rubbed into his soul.

So he crushed down the natural feeling of resentment that arose in his
heart, and tried to act as though he were really grateful for the crumb
thrown down to him with such scorn.

"That's good of you to think of me at all, Ferd. I'll see your father
to-morrow without fail. I hope he can offer me a job that will give me
something like the sum Mr. Cartwright has been paying me," he replied,
quietly.

"How much was that?" asked the other, contemptuously.

"At the rate of seven dollars and a half a full week," answered Dick.

Ferd whistled to signify his skepticism.

"You're yarning, Dick. I don't believe he gave you half that. Anyhow,
I'm dead sure dad'll never think of paying such big wages. He can get
all the help he needs at three dollars a week," remarked Ferd, preparing
to start up his machine and go ahead, since his object had been
accomplished, and he had the peculiar satisfaction of knowing that he
had after a fashion put that upstart Dick Morrison down a peg or two
even while making himself out to be a generous, forgiving fellow.

Dick saw him speed away with a renewed splutter and a cloud of dust,
while to himself he was saying:

"Three dollars a week will never satisfy me just now. I am strong enough
to be earning a dollar a day on a farm, and we have too big a need of
t