"I"m very short of money," returned Silas, alarmed at this suggestion.
"Still, I"ve got the will to help you. If Chester"s out of work, I"m ready to take him back into the store."
"I will tell him that when I write."
"Where is he now?"
"He"s gone out West."
"He"s made a mistake. I knew a boy that went out West some years since, and nearly starved. He came home ragged and hungry."
"I am not afraid Chester will have that experience. He had saved up some money when at work in New York."
"It won"t last long, widder. It don"t take long for fifty dollars to melt away. Did he have that much?"
"I think he did, Mr. Tripp."
"He"d better have put it in a savings bank and come back to Wyncombe to work for me. How soon do you expect him back?"
"Next week."
"When he comes, send him round to see me."
A few days later, Mrs. Greene went into Silas Tripp"s store again.
"Well, Mr. Tripp," she said, "Chester Rand"s got home."
"You don"t say! If you see him, tell him to come round and see me."
"And I can tell you some more news. You know that half-acre lot that j"ins onto the widder"s land?"
"The apple orchard? Yes."
"Well, Chester"s bought it."
"You don"t mean it! Where on earth did he get the money? Do you know what he paid?"
"Two hundred dollars."
"He"ll never be able to pay for it."
"He has paid cash down. Besides, he"s got a new suit of clothes and a gold watch. I don"t believe he will be willing to take a place in your store."
Silas Tripp was amazed. Nay, more, he was incredulous. But it so happened that Chester himself came into the store in five minutes, and confirmed the news.
"Where did you get the money, Chester?" asked Mr. Tripp, curiously, eying the boy with unwonted respect.
"I saved it. I received high pay in New York."
"But you"ve lost the place?"
"Oh, no! I go back to work next week."
"How much pay do you get?"
"Thirty dollars a week."
"Don"t try to fool me!" said Silas, with asperity. "It ain"t creditable to deceive a man old enough to be your grandfather."
Chester smiled.
"Do you want me to bring an affidavit from my employers?" he asked.
"But it"s ridiculous, payin" a boy such wages!" objected Silas.
"It would be foolish for you to pay it, Mr. Tripp; but they think me worth it."
"What sort of work do you do?"
"I make pictures. I will show you a couple," and Chester produced a copy of _The Phoenix_.
"Why, I didn"t think they paid more"n a quarter apiece for such pictures."
"It"s lucky for me that they pay higher than that."
"What was you doin" out West?"
"I went partly to see the country."
"I s"pose it cost you considerable money?"
"Yes, traveling is expensive."
"You"d better have put the money in the bank."
"I don"t think so."
"Boys have foolish notions. I s"pose you was sorry to hear that Miss Dolby had gone away?"
"No, I want mother to have a few months" rest."
"Your mother"ll miss her board."
"No, for I shall make it up to her."
"You talk as if you was rich, Chester."
"I am not so rich as you, Mr. Tripp."