. Mr. Kean, you must call again."

"I shall be glad to do so, if you will permit me."

"I wish you to do so. Luke will come with you. I shall want to hear
more of your mother, and how she gets along."

As they were leaving, Mrs. Merton slipped into the hand of Ambrose
Kean an envelope.

"The contents is for your mother," she said. "I have made the check
payable to you."

"Thank you. It is another mark of your kindness."

When Ambrose Kean examined the check, he ascertained to his joy that
it was for a hundred dollars.

"What a splendid old lady she is, Luke!" he said, enthusiastically.

"She is always kind, Mr. Kean. I have much to be grateful to her for.
I wish I could say the same of other members of the family."

"What other members of the family are there?"

"A niece, Mrs. Tracy, and her son, Harold."

"Why didn't we see them to-night?"

"I don't know. I suppose they were out."

The next day Ambrose handed the check to his employer and asked if he
would indorse it, and so enable him to draw the money.

James Cooper took the check and examined the signature.

"Eliza Merton," said he. "Is it the rich Mrs. Merton who lives on
Prairie Avenue?"

"Yes, sir."

"Indeed; I did not know that you were acquainted with her."

"She and my mother were schoolmates."

"And so you keep up the acquaintance?"

"I spent last evening at her house. This check is a gift from her to
my mother."

Ambrose Kean rose greatly in the estimation of his employer when the
latter learned that Kean had such an aristocratic friend, and he was
treated with more respect and consideration than before.

Meanwhile Harold and his mother had enjoyed themselves at the
theater.

"I suppose Aunt Eliza went to bed early, Harold," said Mrs. Tracy, as
they were on their way home.

"Went to roost with the hens," suggested Harold, laughing at what he
thought to be a good joke.

"Probably it is as well for her," said his mother. "It isn't good for
old people to sit up late."

It was about half-past eleven when they were admitted by the drowsy
servant.

"I suppose Mrs. Merton went to bed long ago, Laura," said Mrs. Tracy.

"No, ma'am, she set up later than usual."

"That is odd. I thought she would feel lonely."

"Oh, she had company, ma'am."

"Company! Who?"

"Master Luke was here all the evenin', and a young man with him."

Mrs. Tracy frowned ominously.

"The sly young artful!" she said to Harold when they were alone. "He