acquaintance. I have been working in the garden--the flower-garden--for
the sake of the exercise. We have negroes enough, though they are very
trifling nowadays, but the exercise is good for my health. I have
trouble, at times, with my rheumatism, and with my--my memory." He
passed his hand over his brow as though brushing away an imaginary
cobweb.

"Ben tells me you have a business matter to present to me?"

The colonel, somewhat mystified, after what he had witnessed, by this
sudden change of manner, but glad to find the old man seemingly
rational, stated the situation in regard to the mill site. Old Malcolm
seemed to understand perfectly, and accepted with willingness the
colonel's proposition to give him a certain amount of stock in the new
company for the release of such rights as he might possess under the
old incorporation. The colonel had brought with him a contract,
properly drawn, which was executed by old Malcolm, and witnessed by
the colonel and Ben.

"I trust, sir," said Mr. Dudley, "that you will not ascribe it to any
discourtesy that I have not called to see you. I knew your father and
your grandfather. But the cares of my estate absorb me so completely
that I never leave home. I shall send my regards to you now and then
by my nephew. I expect, in a very short time, when certain matters
are adjusted, to be able to give up, to a great extent, my arduous
cares, and lead a life of greater leisure, which will enable me to
travel and cultivate a wider acquaintance. When that time comes, sir,
I shall hope to see more of you."

The old gentleman stood courteously on the steps while Ben accompanied
the colonel to the carriage. It had scarcely turned into the lane when
the colonel, looking back, saw the old man digging furiously. The
condition of the yard was explained; he had been unjust in ascribing
it to Ben's neglect.

"I reckon, suh," remarked Peter, "dat w'en he fin' dat million
dollahs, Mistah Ben'll marry Miss Grac'ella an' take huh ter New
Yo'k."

"Perhaps--and perhaps not," said the colonel. To himself he added,
musingly, "Old Malcolm will start on a long journey before he finds
the--million dollars. The watched pot never boils. Buried treasure is
never found by those who seek it, but always accidentally, if at all."

On the way back they stopped at the Treadwells' for Phil. Phil was not
ready to go home. He was intensely interested in a long-eared
mechanical mule, constructed by Ben Dudley out