mber
of the Burton young men. He was amused to see with what deference they
treated him, but preserved a sober face and treated all cordially, so
that he made a favorable impression on those he met.

Among those who made it in their way to call on the two travelers was
Lemuel Sheldon, the rich man of the village.

"How do you do, Jefferson?" he said condescendingly.

"Very well, sir."

"You have been quite a traveler."

"Yes, sir; I have been to the far West."

"And met with some success, I am told."

"Yes, sir; I raised money enough to get home."

"I hear you brought home a few hundred dollars."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, well," said the squire patronizingly, "that's good beginning."

"It must seem very little to a rich man like you, squire."

"Oh, no!" said the squire patronizingly. "You are a young man. I
shouldn't wonder if by the time you get as old as I am you might be
worth five thousand dollars."

"I hope so," answered Mr. Pettigrew demurely.

"By the way, you have brought a young man with you, I am told."

"Yes."

"I should like to make his acquaintance. He is rich, is he not?"

"I wish I was as rich."

"You don't say so! About how much do you estimate he is worth?"

"I don't think it amounts to quite as much as a quarter of a million.
Still, you know it is not always easy to tell how much a person is
worth."

"He is certainly a VERY fortunate young man," said the squire,
impressed. "What is his name?"

"Rodney Ropes."

"The name sounds aristocratic. I shall be glad to know him."

"Rodney," said Mr. Pettigrew. "I want to introduce you to Squire
Sheldon, our richest and most prominent citizen."

"I am glad to meet you, Squire Sheldon," said Rodney, offering his hand.

"I quite reciprocate the feeling, Mr. Ropes, but Mr. Pettigrew should
not call me a rich man. I am worth something, to be sure."

"I should say you were, squire," said Jefferson. "Rodney, he is as rich
as you are."

"Oh no," returned the squire, modestly, "not as rich as that. Indeed, I
hardly know how much I am worth. As Mr. Pettigrew very justly observed
it is not easy to gauge a man's possessions. But there is one difference
between us. You, Mr. Ropes, I take it, are not over eighteen."

"Only sixteen, sir."

"And yet you are wealthy. I am rising fifty. When you come to my age you
will be worth much more."

"Perhaps I may have lost all I now possess," said Rodney. "Within a year
I have lost fifty thousand dollars.