on me if I can help out, won't you?"

He closed the gate and went forward to crank up his runabout, but
Ralph detained him a few moments longer, to tell him about the
encounter with Bill Terrill. When he had finished, the doctor
advised him to pay no attention to the vague overtures made by
Silas Perkins' hireling, until the doctor himself had referred
the matter of the survey to the coexecutor of Mr. Kenyon's will.
After that, it would be time to consider a sale, definitely.

"Don't let anyone bunco you, my boy," he added, as he climbed into
his car and grasped the steering-wheel. "By the way, Ralph, I saw
my friend Professor Whalen in Oakvale, the other day. He told me he
sighted a fine pair of golden eagles up here in the mountains,
recently, and would willingly give a hundred and fifty dollars for
that pair, if they're as good as he thinks they are. He wants them
for a gift to his college museum. There's a chance for you!"

"So much---for a pair of eagles!" exclaimed the boy. "Did he
really mean it?"

"I'll bet he did! You don't know what a good sport Whalen is when
he strikes any thing out of the ordinary in that line. If I were
you, Ralph"---here the doctor leaned over the side of his car,
and spoke earnestly---"I'd try to locate their eyrie and capture
them, dead or alive, Or, it might be worth your while even to lead
the professor up to a place where he could get a safe shot at the
birds. He talked of coming up here some day this week. I tell you
what I'll do; I'll send him here to you, and you can guide him."

"No, no!" protested the lad, eagerly. "Just give me his address,
and I'll do my best to get the pair for him and bring them to him
in the village."

"You can ride over with me and see him, the next time I come up here,"
said the doctor. "Good luck, Ralph!"

"Thank you, sir! Good bye!"

When the automobile skidded out of sight, leaving a cloud of dust,
Ralph remained standing by the gate, warmed by a new hope which
the doctor's suggestion had kindled in his mind. No longer did
the hundred and twenty-five dollars seem unattainable, no longer
did clouds of gloom and anxiety hide their silver lining! Here
was another way of earning money for his mother's desperate need:
an uncertain, difficult, even dangerous way, to be sure, but one
well worth trying. Yes, he would make the attempt, even though
he hated to take the lives of those splendid creatures of the
air. He determined to get