ou settle the bill."

"Look here, has Walton been talking against me?"

"No; what makes you think so?"

"He don't like me, because I twitted him with his meanness."

"I don't consider him mean."

"Has he ever bought anything of you?"

"No."

"I knew it. He prefers to go ragged and save his money."

"He's too honorable to run up a bill without paying it."

"Do you mean me?" demanded Luke, angrily.

"I hope not. I presume you intend to pay your bills."

Luke Harrison left the shop. He saw that he exhausted his credit with
Merrill. As to paying the bill, there was not much chance of that at
present, as he had but one dollar and a half in his pocket.

CHAPTER XV. "BY EXPRESS"

"There's a model for you," said the tailor to Maurice Tudor. "He won't
pay his bills."

"How did you come to trust him in the first place?"

"I didn't know him then as well as I do now. I make it a practice to
accommodate my customers by trusting them for a month or two, if they
want it. But Luke Harrison isn't one to be trusted."

"I should say not."

"If young Walton wants to get an overcoat on credit, I shan't object. I
judge something by looks, and I am sure he is honest."

"Well, good night, Mr. Merrill. You'll have my coat done soon?"

"Yes, Mr. Tudor. It shall be ready for you to-morrow."

Maurice Tudor left the tailor's shop, revolving a new idea which
had just entered his mind. Now he remembered that he had at home and
excellent overcoat which he had worn the previous winter, but which was
now too small for him. He had no younger brother to wear it, nor in his
circumstances was such economy necessary. As well as he could judge
by observing Harry's figure, it would be an excellent fit for him. Why
should he not give it to him?

The opportunity came. On his way home he overtook our hero, plunged in
thought. In fact, he was still occupied with the problem of the needed
overcoat.

"Good evening, Harry," said young Tudor.

"Good evening, Mr. Tudor," answered Harry. "Are you going back to the
city soon?"

"In the course of a week or two. Mr. Leavitt's son is in a store in
Boston, is he not?"

"Yes. I have taken his place in the shop."

"By the way, I saw you in Merrill's this evening."

"Yes; I was pricing an overcoat."

"I bought this one in Boston just before I came away. I have a very good
one left from last winter but it is too small for me. It is of no use to
me. If I thought you would accept it,