ant to
sink a well."

"You wouldn't buy that land if it was oil you were after. One time I did
think we might strike it, but those as know told me there wasn't any
there, after they'd looked the property over," replied the old man, as
with trembling hand he held the money toward George.

"Well, we'll buy the land, anyway," said the young engineer, with a
smile. "You have said that it was worth that amount of money, and we may
be able to sell it for more than we paid you, even if there isn't any
oil. So have the deed made out, and leave it for me at Farmer
Kenniston's."

Then, before the old man could make any further reply, George walked
swiftly on, followed by Ralph, and Mr. Simpson was left to enjoy the
generosity which enabled him still to retain the home that was made dear
both to him and his wife by so many pleasant, and at the same time sad,
recollections.

"Well?" he said, inquiringly, when he and Ralph had left Mr. Simpson
some distance behind, wondering if the good fortune which had come to
him was real or not.

"Well?" repeated Ralph, laughing. "I suppose you mean to ask if I am
sorry for what I have done? Not a bit of it, for I can get father to
give me money enough to pay for my ticket home, while, simply at the
expense of a little enjoyment, we have made that old man happy. But how
will it affect you, George? How can you search for your horses if you
have no money?"

"From the united funds we have twenty-three dollars left, and if that is
not enough then the horses must remain lost, for I would willingly have
given them up rather than that Mr. Simpson and his wife should have been
turned homeless into the world."

"If you think that way, then I think we have done a good thing, and we
certainly ought to feel that we are of considerably more importance in
the world, since we are landed proprietors. But we must look at the
property before I go home, for I want to see it; and now come with me
where I can write a letter to father, for the longer I stay now, the
more deeply in debt shall I be."

"You're not going to shorten your vacation because of lending this
money, Ralph, for you shall live with me, and the only inconvenience you
will suffer will be the lack of money to spend."

Ralph was not so certain that he would become a burden on George simply
because he had expended some money in charity; but just at that moment
there was no need of discussing it; and he proposed that they return to
the pol