regarded him with no more respect
than they did each other, he was at times carelessly admitted to their
confidence. It was especially Rupert Filgee who extended a kind of
patronizing protectorate over him--not unmixed with doubts of his
sanity, in spite of the promised confidential clerkship he was to
receive from his hands.

On the day of the events chronicled in the preceding chapter, Rupert on
returning from school was somewhat surprised to find Uncle Ben perched
upon the rail-fence before the humble door of the Filgee mansion
and evidently awaiting him. Slowly dismounting as Rupert and Johnny
approached, he beamed upon the former for some moments with arch and yet
affable mystery.

"Roopy, old man, I s'pose ye've got yer duds all ready in yer pack, eh?"

A flush of pleasure passed over the boy's handsome face. He cast,
however, a hurried look down on the all-pervading Johnny.

"'Cause ye see we kalkilate to take the down stage to Sacramento at
four o'clock," continued Uncle Ben, enjoying Rupert's half sceptical
surprise. "Ye enter into office, so to speak, with me at that hour,
when the sellery, seventy-five dollars a month and board, ez private and
confidential clerk, begins--eh?"

Rupert's dimples deepened in charming, almost feminine, embarrassment.
"But dad--?" he stammered.

"Et's all right with HIM. He's agreeable."

"But--?"

Uncle Ben followed Rupert's glance at Johnny, who however appeared to be
absorbed in the pattern of Uncle Ben's new trousers.

"That's fixed," he said with a meaning smile. "There's a sort o' bonus
we pays down, you know--for a Chinyman to do the odd jobs."

"And teacher--Mr. Ford--did ye tell him?" said Rupert brightening.

Uncle Ben coughed slightly. "He's agreeable, too, I reckon. That is,"
he wiped his mouth meditatively, "he ez good ez allowed it in gin'ral
conversation a week ago, Roop."

A swift shadow of suspicion darkened the boy's brown eyes. "Is anybody
else goin' with us?" he said quickly.

"Not this yer trip," replied Uncle Ben complacently. "Ye see, Roop," he
continued, drawing him aside with an air of comfortable mystery, "this
yer biz'ness b'longs to the private and confidential branch of the
office. From informashun we've received"--

"WE?" interrupted Rupert.

"'We,' that's the OFFICE, you know," continued Uncle Ben with a heavy
assumption of business formality, "wot we've received per several hands
and consignee--we--that's YOU and ME, Roop--we goes