smith, in a sarcastic
tone.

"Let me go! I'll promise to lead a good life. This young man says he'll
give me two dollars. I'll take it and go."

"Don't give him a cent, Andy. You can go, but I'll give you something to
remember me by."

He gave the tramp a vigorous kick that nearly prostrated him, and then,
getting into his wagon, said:

"I'll keep along with you, Andy. I don't think you'll have any more
trouble."

The tramp slunk into the woods, baffled and disappointed. If looks could
have annihilated the sturdy blacksmith, his span of life would have been
brief.

CHAPTER IX.

CONRAD'S SCHEME.

When Andy told Mr. Gale the story of his adventures on the trip to
Benton, he received cordial congratulations on his courage.

"You have shown a great deal of pluck, Andy," he said. "The next time
you have occasion to go over to the bank for me I will accompany you.
Now, if you are not too tired, I want you to go down to the pond. I have
something to show you."

They walked side by side till they reached the pond.

Andy's curiosity was not specially excited. He talked with Mr. Gale on
different topics, and had hardly time to consider what it was he was to
see. But when he reached the boathouse he saw floating at the small pier
an elegant rowboat, built of cedar, and much handsomer than either
Conrad's or Valentine's.

"Oh, what a beauty!" he exclaimed.

"Yes," said Mr. Gale, quietly; "you will have quite the best boat on the
pond."

"I?" exclaimed Andy, in surprise.

"Yes, for the boat is yours."

"But I don't understand," stammered Andy.

"It is plain enough," said Walter Gale, with a pleasant smile. "The boat
is yours. I give it to you."

"How can I thank you?" exclaimed Andy, grasping his friend's hand. "I
can't believe that this beautiful boat is mine."

"You will realize it after a while. Let me tell you how I got it. It was
built for a rich young man in New York, one of the Four Hundred, I
believe, but as he received an unexpected invitation to go abroad for
two years, he authorized the builder to sell it for him at a
considerable reduction from the price he paid. So it happens that I was
able to secure it for you. Now let us go out for a row. It will be the
trial trip."

Fifteen minutes later Conrad got into his boat and started out. It was
not long before his eyes were attracted to the new boat.

He could see at once, for he was a judge, that it was far more elegant
and costly than