d in the market--and he had funds
left for his immediate wants.

With this feeling of contentment permeating his mind something of the
old feeling of independence, with its indifference toward the dollar and
what it meant and could bring him, welled up in his heart. For a time at
least the spectre of debt lay hidden. A certain old-time happiness began
to show itself in his face and bearing. So evident was this that before
many days had passed even Todd noticed the return of his old buoyancy,
and so felt privileged to discuss his own feelings, now that the secret
of their mode of earning a common livelihood was no longer a bugbear to
his master.

"Dem taters what we got outer de extry sterrups of dat ridin'-saddle is
mos' gone," he ventured one morning at breakfast, when the remains of
the cup money had reached a low ebb. "Shall I tote de udder saddle down
to dat Gadgem man"--(he never called him anything else, although of late
he had conceived a marked respect for the collector)--"or shall I keep
it fer some mo' sugar?"

"What else is short, Todd?" said St. George, good-naturedly, helping
himself to another piece of corn bread.

"Well, dere's plenty ob dose decanter crackers and de pair ob andirons
is still holdin' out wid de mango pickles an' de cheese, but dat pair
ob ridin'-boots is mos' gone. We got half barrel ob flour an' a bag o'
coffee, ye 'member, wid dem boots. I done seen some smoked herrin' in
de market yisterday mawnin' 'd go mighty good wid de buckwheat cakes an'
sugar-house 'lasses--only we ain't got no 'lasses. I was a-thinkin' dem
two ol' cheers in de garret 'd come in handy; ain't nobody sot in em
since I been yere; de bottoms is outen one o' dem, but de legs an' backs
is good 'nough fer a quart o' 'lasses. I kin take 'em down to de same
place dat Gadgem man tol' me to take de big brass shovel an' tongs--"

"All right, Todd," rejoined St. George, highly amused at the boy's
economic resources. "Anything that Mr. Gadgem recommends I agree to.
Yes--take him the chairs--both of them."

Even the men at the club had noticed the change and congratulated him on
his good spirits. None of them knew of his desperate straits, although
many of them had remarked on the differences in his hospitality, while
some of the younger gallants--men who made a study of the height
and roll of the collars of their coats and the latest cut of
waistcoats--especially the increased width of the frogs on the
lapels--had whisp