xpects to get very rich, does he?"

"Oh, yes. He talks about what he will do when he has money. It
certainly would be a great pity to take such a hope from him. I
believe it would kill him at once."

For a long time they talked, and it was late when they went to bed, the
stranger with the chauffeur in the adjoining room, and Jasper upon the
cot. The latter found it hard to get to sleep, as many thoughts kept
surging through his mind. He wondered why his visitor should take such
a keen interest in the welfare of old David. He recalled, too, his
sudden start when David's name was mentioned, and the excuse which had
been given did not altogether satisfy him.

Jasper was awake early next morning, and had the frugal breakfast ready
by the time his two visitors came from their room. As soon as
breakfast was over, the chauffeur left to look after the car. The
stranger then pushed back his chair, lighted a cigar, and handed one to
Jasper.

"Please do not trouble about the dishes now," he began in a tone which
somewhat surprised the young man.

"I have been thinking over what you told me last night, and am greatly
impressed by the sad condition of that old man. You have no work in
view, so I understand?"

"You are right," Jasper replied.

"Well, then," the other continued, "I wish to make a definite
proposition to you on several conditions. I wish to employ you for one
month, and will give you one hundred and fifty dollars, if that will be
satisfactory."

It was Jasper's turn now to start, and look with astonishment at the
man before him. Was he in earnest? he asked himself, or was he merely
joking?

"Ah, I see you are astonished," and the stranger smiled, "but I assure
you that I mean what I say, and to prove it, I shall pay you in
advance."

"But what are the conditions?" Jasper stammered.

"They are three," the stranger replied after a slight pause. "First,
that you are to take special care of that old man. How you are to do
it I shall explain later. In the next place you are to ask no
questions as to why I am doing this. And last of all, you are not to
say who is doing this, neither to the old man nor, in fact, to any one."

For a few seconds Jasper looked at the stranger in a quizzical manner.
He was wondering whether the man was really in his right mind.

"Isn't that a strange proposition to put to one you know so little
about?" he asked.

"In most cases it might be," was the quiet reply.