spoiled the scheme.
Simon had hurried to the barn to warn his confederates, but at that
instant Grit, excited by a beating he was getting, had broken loose.

"No," mused Dick, "I don't believe Simon will show up around here for
some time."

"Who is the other letter from?" asked Mr. Hamilton.

"I don't know. I'll open it."

Dick rapidly scanned the contents.

"Uncle Ezra Larabee is coming to pay us a visit," he announced. "He'll
be here to-morrow."

"Uncle Ezra, eh?" repeated Mr. Hamilton. "I suppose he wants to see how
you are getting on--with your investments."

"Hum!" exclaimed Dick, with an uneasy laugh, "maybe he thinks the year
is up and I'm to go back with him. But it isn't--I'm glad to say."

"Well, we must make his visit pleasant," said Mr. Hamilton. "It isn't
often he comes to Hamilton Corners."

Uncle Ezra Larabee arrived the next day. Dick was in the library reading
when he heard the door bell ring and the butler answered it.

"Is Mr. Hamilton in?" he heard a voice ask, and he knew it was his
uncle. The boy hastened to greet his relative.

"Why didn't you let us know what train you were coming on and I would
have met you with the carriage," asked Dick, politely.

"No, thank you, Nephew Richard," replied Uncle Ezra, in rasping tones.
"I'm not too old to walk, and it's well to save the horse all you can."

"And you carried that heavy valise?" asked Dick.

"Of course I did, Nephew Richard. You didn't suppose I was going to pay
twenty-five cents to have a boy carry it, did you? Lots of them wanted
to, but twenty-five cents isn't earned every day, so I brought it
myself," and with an expression of pain that he could not conceal Mr.
Larabee set the heavy satchel down. His arm was stiff from carrying it,
but he smiled grimly with satisfaction when he thought of the quarter of
a dollar he had saved.

"Come right upstairs and I'll show you to your room," invited Dick.
"Then I'll telephone father you are here."

"No, no, don't waste any money telephoning, Nephew Richard," said Uncle
Ezra, hastily.

"Why it doesn't cost anything, uncle. We have to pay for the telephone
by the year."

"Well, don't do it. They might charge you something this time. You never
can tell. Besides, you might interrupt your father in some business
deal and make him lose some money. No, I'll wait until he comes home."

"Very well," assented Dick.

"Gracious! What's that?" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as a low growl came from
a