t deprived him of nearly all
his theatrical company, as well as partners in the enterprise.

"I'll tell you what it is, Mopsey," said Ben, after he had whispered
with Johnny and Dickey, and they had nodded their heads as if agreeing
with what he said, "we'll give you our share of the theatre--'cause,
of course, we can't spend any time actin', now that we've got the
store, an' you an' Nelly can own it alone. You can get some other
actors, an' we'll buy tickets every time you have a show, whether we
can come or not."

This present was all Mopsey needed to make him as happy as if he had
been given an interest in the store. He began to think of such of his
friends as he was quite positive would make bright and shining lights
in the dramatic world, and was so generous as to offer to tell them
all about the play as soon as he should have it mapped out in his
mind.

When the partners went to bed that night, impressed with a sense of
their growing importance, Johnny remarked to Ben, just as his eyes
were closing in sleep,

"Now we're reg'lar folks at last, ain't we?"

And Ben quite agreed with him.

CHAPTER XVI.

IN CONCLUSION.

As Paul had agreed, he spent the next day with Ben and Johnny in their
store; and surely no shopman ever felt more pride in selling goods
than they did. Paul acted as clerk; and a very inquisitive one he was,
too, for he insisted on looking everywhere, so that he should know
just what kind of goods his friends had for sale.

Trade was very good; and when the money was counted for about the
fifteenth time, and it was found that they had sold twenty dollars'
worth of goods, there was not one of the four who did not believe that
in less than a year Ben and Johnny would be numbered among the
merchant princes of the country.

When it was time for Paul to go back to the hotel, the question of
escorting him to the steamer arose, for he was to make one more effort
to start with his father for Europe, and it was quite certain that
there would be no mistake this time. The steamer was to sail at ten
o'clock; and of course all the boys could not go, since some one must
be left to attend to the store, though who that unfortunate one would
be promised to be a vexing question, till Ben said,

"I'm the oldest, an' so I s'pose it must be me. I'll have to say
good-bye now, Polly, for I can't see you in the mornin'. When you come
back, be sure an' come up here, won't you? And if you'll write to us,