it was a delicate matter
and, of course, we didn't know that she could bear so strongly upon the
case. It's all right--better as it is, and that boy will get off as sure
as you are sitting there. That threat was worse than his standing in
the road, waiting. Yes, sir, it's all right, and you may take up your
school again and go ahead with your work."

"I don't want to go ahead with it, Mr. Conkwright. I want to study law
with you. The school was only a makeshift, any way. You are getting old
and you need some one to do the drudgery of your office. I will come in
and work faithfully."

"Don't know but you are right, Billy."

"I wish, sir, that you wouldn't call me Billy."

"All right, Colonel."

"And I don't care to be called Colonel. You may call me Bill, if you
want to, but Billy----"

"A little too soft, eh? All right. I don't know but you are the very man
I want. You are faithful and you've got a good head. Call again in a day
or two. It has been a long time since I had a partner. Yes, come in
again, and I think we can arrange it."

"There is something else that I want to speak about, and to me it is of
more importance than----"

"Love!" the old man broke in, winking at me.

"I'll tell you, if you'll wait a moment. Then you may place your own
estimate upon it."

I told him of the broken engagement, of Chyd's indifference, of the old
couple's plan to leave the community, and I unfolded my sentimental
resolve to buy the old house. "And now I must ask a favor," I continued.
"Old man Perdue told me that he would pay me for the time--time I have
not taught, but as I am not going to fill out the term it wouldn't be
right to take the money."

"Ah, and it is law you want to study?"

"Why, of course. Didn't I make that plain?"

"Oh, yes. And you don't think it would be right to take the money? Go
ahead, though."

"I know it wouldn't be right. And what I want to ask of you is this: The
investment will require about two hundred dollars. Won't you lend me
that amount?"

He scratched his head, scratched his chin, bit off a chew of tobacco,
stretched himself and said: "Well, I have been lending money all my
life, and I don't see why I should stop now. Did you ever hear of
anybody paying back borrowed money except in a poker game? I never did.
Do people really pay back? I don't know what the custom is over in the
part of the country you came from, but the rules are very strict here,
and they are not violated ver