s property to her and Peter. I dare
say she will succeed."

"Let us hope your father will live till you are a young man, at least,
and better able to cope with her."

"I earnestly hope so."

"Your father is not an old man."

"He is fifty-one, but he is not strong. I believe he has liver
complaint. At any rate, I know that when, at my stepmother's
instigation, he applied to an insurance company to insure his life for
her benefit, the application was rejected."

"You don't know anything of Mrs. Crawford's antecedents?"

"No."

"What was her name before she married your father?"

"She was a Mrs. Cook. That, as you know, is Peter's name."

"Perhaps, in your travels, you may learn something of her history."

"I should like to do so."

"You won't leave us to-morrow?"

"I must go to-day. I know now that I must depend wholly upon my own
exertions, and I must get to work as soon as possible."

"You will write to me, Carl?"

"Yes, when I have anything agreeable to write."

"Let us hope that will be soon."

CHAPTER VII.

ENDS IN A TRAGEDY.

Carl obtained permission to leave his trunk at the Vance mansion, merely
taking out what he absolutely needed for a change.

"When I am settled I will send for it," he said. "Now I shouldn't know
what to do with it."

There were cordial good-bys, and Carl started once more on the tramp.
He might, indeed, have traveled by rail, for he had ten dollars and
thirty-seven cents; but it occurred to him that in walking he might meet
with some one who would give him employment. Besides, he was not in a
hurry to get on, nor had he any definite destination. The day was fine,
there was a light breeze, and he experienced a hopeful exhilaration
as he walked lightly on, with the world before him, and any number of
possibilities in the way of fortunate adventures that might befall him.

He had walked five miles, when, to the left, he saw an elderly man
hard at work in a hay field. He was leaning on his rake, and looking
perplexed and troubled. Carl paused to rest, and as he looked over the
rail fence, attracted the attention of the farmer.

"I say, young feller, where are you goin'?" he asked.

"I don't know--exactly."

"You don't know where you are goin'?" repeated the farmer, in surprise.

Carl laughed. "I am going out in the world to seek my fortune," he said.

"You be? Would you like a job?" asked the farmer, eagerly.

"What sort of a job?"

"I'd like to have you