m. I don't know any place that would
be good enough except the squire's."

"The squire wouldn't sell."

"Oh, well, I don't know as Rodney would care to locate in Burton."

"You're in luck to get such a friend. Say, do you think he would lend
you a hundred dollars if you were hard up?"

"I know he would. By the way, Hector, is there any news? How is my
uncle?"

"I think the old man is worrying on account of his mortgage."

"Who holds it?"

"The squire. They do say he is goin' to foreclose. That'll be bad for
the old man. It'll nigh about break his heart I expect."

"Can't uncle raise the money to pay him?"

"Who is there round here who has got any money except the squire?"

"That's so."

"Where are you goin' to stop, Jeff?"

"I guess I'll stop at the tavern tonight, but I'll go over and call on
uncle this evening."

CHAPTER XXV.

JEFFERSON PETTIGREW'S HOME.

News spreads fast in a country village. Scarcely an hour had passed
when it was generally known that Jefferson Pettigrew had come home from
Montana with a few hundred dollars in money, bringing with him a rich
boy who could buy out all Burton. At least that is the way the report
ran.

When the two new arrivals had finished supper and come out on the hotel
veranda there were a dozen of Jefferson Pettigrew's friends ready to
welcome him.

"How are you, Jefferson, old boy?" said one and another.

"Pretty well, thank you. It seems good to be home."

"I hear you've brought back some money."

"Yes, a few hundred dollars."

"That's better than nothing. I reckon you'll stay home now."

"I can't afford it, boys."

"Are ye goin' back to Montany?"

"Yes. I know the country, and I can make a middlin' good livin' there."

"I say, is that boy thats with you as rich as they say?"

"I don't know what they say."

"They say he's worth a million."

"Oh no, not so much as that. He's pretty well fixed."

"Hasn't he got a father livin'?"

"No, it's his father that left the money."

"How did you happen to get in with him?"

"Oh, we met promiscuous. He took a sort of fancy to me, and that's the
way of it."

"Do you expect to keep him with you?"

"He talks of goin' back to Montana with me. I'll be sort of guardian to
him."

"You're in luck, Jeff."

"Yes, I'm in luck to have pleasant company. Maybe we'll join together
and buy a mine."

"Would you mind introducin' him?"

"Not at all," and thus Rodney became acquainted with quite a nu