erbout as soon quit. This 'ere money ain't no good to
me 'cept fer body cover an' powder an' balls. I'd as leave drop it in
the river. It bothers me. I don't need it. When I git hum I go an'
hide it in the bush somewhars--jest to git it out o' my way. I been
thinkin' all up the road from Virginny o' this 'ere gol demnable money
an' what I were a-goin' to do with it an' what it could do to me. An',
sez I, I'm ergoin' to ask Jack to take it an' use it fer a wall 'twixt
him an' trouble, an' the idee hurried me erlong--honest! Kind o' made
me happy. Course, if I had a wife an' childern, 'twould be different,
but I ain't got no one. An' now ye tell me ye don't want it, which it
makes me feel lonesomer 'n a tarred Tory an' kind o' sorrowful--ayes,
sir, it does."

Solomon's voice sank to a whisper.

"Forgive me," said Jack. "I didn't know you felt that way. But I'm
glad you do. I'll take it on the understanding that as long as I live
what I have shall also be yours."

"I've two hundred poun' an' six shillin' in my pocket an' a lot more
hid in the bush. It's all yourn to the last round penny. I reckon
it'll purty nigh bridge the slough. I want ye to be married
respectable like a gentleman--slick duds, plenty o' cakes an' pies an'
no slightin' the minister er the rum bar'l.

"Major Washington give me a letter to take to Ben Franklin on t'other
side o' the ocean. Ye see ev'ry letter that's sent ercrost is opened
an' read afore it gits to him lessen it's guarded keerful. This 'ere
one, I guess, has suthin' powerful secret in it. He pays all the
bills. So I'll be goin' erlong with ye on the nex' ship an' when we
git thar I want to shake hands with the gal and tell her how to make ye
behave."

That evening Jack went to the manager of _The Gazette_ and asked for a
six months' leave of absence.

"And why would ye be leaving?" asked the manager, a braw Scot.

"I expect to be married."

"In England?"

"Yes."

"I'll agree if the winsome, wee thing will give ye time to send us news
letters from London. Doctor Franklin could give ye help. He has been
boiling over with praise o' you and has asked me to broach the matter.
Ye'll be sailing on the next ship."

Before there was any sailing Jack and Solomon had time to go to Albany
for a visit. They found the family well and prosperous, the town
growing. John Irons said that land near the city was increasing
rapidly in value. Solomon went away into the wo