king coolness.

"No matter whether it is or not," retorted Jones, red in the face. "I
tell you to come down. Do you hear?"

"Yes, I hear."

"Then you'd better come down double quick or I'll give you a taste of a
horsewhip."

"I advise you to mind your own business, Mr. Jones," said Robert hotly,
"and not interfere with the passengers by this stage."

"You're not a passenger, you young beggar!"

"I am a passenger--and now you'd better stop talking."

"Have you got money to pay your fare?" asked the landlord, beginning to
suspect he had made a fool of himself.

"When the driver calls for the fare it will be time enough to tell."

"Luke," said Mr. Jones to the driver, "you'd better take that boy's fare
now. He wants to swindle you out of a ride."

"You may take it out of this," said Robert, tendering a five-dollar
bill.

"I guess we'll let it stand till we get to Kaneville," said Luke,
gathering up the reins.

Robert darted a glance of triumph at the discomfited and bewildered
landlord, and his journey was begun.

The latter, on Luke's return, learned to his further surprise that
Robert had gone to Boston. On reflection, he concluded that Mrs. Trafton
must have some relatives in the city from whom they hoped to borrow
enough money to raise the mortgage.

"But he won't succeed, and in four weeks I shall turn him and his aunt
out of doors," Mr. Jones complacently reflected.

CHAPTER XXIII

AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE

When Robert arrived in Boston he was at first bewildered by the noise
and bustle to which, in the quiet fishing village, he was quite
unaccustomed. All that he knew about the city was the names of the
principal streets.

It was not necessary, however, that he should go in any particular
direction. He decided, therefore, to walk along, keeping a good lookout,
and, when he saw a clothing store, to go in and provide a new outfit.

He was sensible that he was by no means dressed in city style. His
clothes were coarse, and being cut and made by his aunt--who, though an
excellent woman, was by no means an excellent tailor--looked countrified
and outlandish.

The first hint Robert had of this was when two well-dressed boys,
meeting him, simultaneously burst out laughing.

Robert was sensitive, but he was by no means bashful or timid.
Accordingly he stepped up to the boys and demanded with kindling eyes:

"Are you laughing at me?"

"Oh, no, of course not," answered one of the boys, rolli