afraid you will have to wait till you are better entitled to
credit."

"Now, that's mean, Uncle Edgar. I know how I'll get even with you."

"How?"

"I will write a rival book, and get Chester to illustrate it better
than yours."

"It would need better illustrations, since there would be nothing else
in the work worthy of attention."

"Your uncle has got you there," said Chester.

"You'll illustrate my book, won't you?"

"Certainly; that is, if I can depend on prompt payment."

Chester and Arthur Burks were fast friends. Arthur did not shine in
scholarship, but he was fond of fun, and was a warm-hearted and
pleasant companion, and a true friend.

One afternoon he called on Chester at his room.

"I bring you an invitation to dinner," he said. "Uncle has a friend
from Oregon visiting him, and as he is an interesting talker, you will
enjoy meeting him. I believe he is a professor in Williamette
University."

"Thank you, Arthur; I shall be very glad to come."

"Come with me now, if you have got through your day's work. You can
have a little scientific conversation before dinner."

"It will be the science of baseball and tennis, I suspect, Arthur."

"No doubt you will find me very instructive."

"You always are, Arthur."

"Thank you. I like to be appreciated by somebody."

At the dinner table Chester was introduced to Prof. Nugent.

"This is Chester Rand, the young artist who is illustrating my
ethnological work, brother Nugent," said Prof. Hazlitt.

"What--this boy?" Prof. Nugent exclaimed, in a tone of surprise.

"Yes. Boy as he is, he is a salaried contributor to _The Phoenix_."

"You surprise me. How old are you, Mr. Rand?"

"Sixteen."

"I suppose you began your art education early?"

Chester smiled.

"No, sir," he answered. "Four months ago I was the boy in a country
grocery store."

"This is wonderful. I shall subscribe to _The Phoenix_ before I go back
to my Western home."

"I am afraid, sir, it will be too light to suit your taste."

"My dear young friend, don't suppose I am always grave. What says the
Latin poet:

"_'Dulce est desipere in loco.'_

"If you don't understand it, probably Arthur can enlighten you."

"What does it mean, Arthur?"

"It means, 'When all your serious work is done, 'tis best to have a
little fun,'" answered Arthur, promptly.

"Bravo, Arthur," said Prof. Nugent, clapping his hands. "So we have a
young poet as well as a young artist here."

"Oh,