and found that Gwyn had accompanied
his father, the former having been hidden by the shrubs as they came up
to the door.

CHAPTER TEN.

FINDING AN INTRUDER.

"Well, old man; on the sick list?" began the Colonel, shaking hands
warmly with his friend. "What's the last bulletin?"

"Bad, bad," said the Major, sharply. "Just heard that a man I respected
is going to make a fool of himself."

"Eh? What?" said the Colonel, flushing. "Who's been chattering about--
ahem! Are you alluding to the mine on my property, Major Jollivet?"

"No, sir," said the Major, sitting up, "I was speaking about the hole by
the cliff that was dug by a pack of greedy noodles who were not
satisfied with their incomes, and I felt that I should not like to see
an old friend of mine go shovelling his money down into it, and breaking
his wife's heart."

"Then it was like your--ahem, ahem!" coughed the Colonel, checking
himself. "No, no; don't go away, boys," for Gwyn was stealing out,
followed by Joe.

"No, don't you boys go," cried the Major; "it will be a lesson for you
both."

"Father been very bad, Joe?" said the Colonel.

"Very bad, indeed, sir," said the boy.

"Silence, sir!" cried the Major. "Nothing of the sort. Don't
exaggerate, Joe."

"No, father."

"He doesn't, Dick. You've had a nasty touch this morning, or you
wouldn't have spoken to me like that."

"I couldn't help it, old man," said the Major, warmly. "But surely you
will never be so mad as to go pumping out that old place."

"H'm! I don't know about mad. Be useful to make a little money for the
sake of the boy."

"Very bad to lose a great deal for the sake of the boy."

"Nothing venture, nothing win, Dick. I'm beginning to think that it
would be worth while to put some money in the venture, and I came up
this morning to make you the first offer of joining in."

"And throwing away my bit of money, too. No, sir, not if I know it.
I'm not quite such an idiot as that."

"You mean as I am," said the Colonel, quietly.

"I did not say so," retorted the Major. "I should not dream of
insulting an old friend by using such language."

"No, but you would think it all the same," cried the Colonel. "Now,
look here, Jollivet; you and I have enough to live upon comfortably."

"Quite."

"But there's nothing left to start these two young dogs well in life;
now is there?"

"Well--er--rum--er--no; there is not much, Pendarve, certainly."

"That's what I h