t smart enough to take care of your boat," he said,
coldly, "you will have to suffer the consequences."

"But I don't see how I am to blame?"

"Have you any idea who did the mischief?"

"Perhaps Andy Grant did--he doesn't like me."

"I don't think that very probable. You can charge him with it if you
think best. But I thought you told me he had a new boat of his own?"

"So he has--a perfect beauty! It is ever so much better than mine. I
wish--"

"Well, what do you wish?"

"That you would buy me one like his."

"Well, I like that. After losing your boat through your own
carelessness, you want me to invest a large sum in another."

"Must I go without one, then?" asked Conrad, in dismay.

"It looks that way."

Conrad resorted to earnest entreaties. He was willing, now, to accept
any sort of boat, for he was fond of rowing; but Squire Carter had just
heard unfavorable reports from his broker about a speculation he had
entered into, and he was inflexible.

"What a fool I was!" reflected Conrad, bitterly. "My boat was a good
one, even if it wasn't as fine as Andy's, and now I have none. I shall
have to borrow his or Valentine's when I want to go out rowing."

Later in the day he met Andy.

Andy had heard of Conrad's loss and was full of sympathy.

"Conrad," he said, "it's a shame about your boat being destroyed."

"Yes, it is pretty hard."

"The boys say a tramp did the mischief."

"I think it very likely. There was a tramp about town yesterday. I saw
him myself."

"What could have been his object? Ruining the boat would not benefit
him."

"It might have been out of revenge. He asked me for a quarter and I
wouldn't give it to him."

This explanation occurred to Conrad on the spur of the moment.

"Can't you have him arrested?"

"He is probably out of town by this time."

"I suppose you will have a new boat?"

"Yes, after a while."

"I will lend you mine any time you wish."

"Thank you," said Conrad, but he spoke coldly and ungraciously.

It seemed to him humiliating to receive any favors from a poor boy like
Andy Grant.

Two weeks later, when Andy went over to the hotel, as usual, to meet his
employer and pupil, Mr. Gale said:

"I have some news for you."

"I hope it is good news."

"I don't know that you will consider it so. I shall have to leave you
for a time."

Andy's face fell. This certainly was bad news.

"I have received a letter this morning," continued Walter Gale, "from