ning."

"What was it?" Sam asked, his curiosity being excited.

"Mr. Richmond the trader owed me a note for five hundred dollars,
indorsed by Job Stanton, and as he did not pay it, I had to call on
Stanton."

"He couldn't pay--he's too poor," said Sam.

"Not in money, but he owns his place. I have accepted a mortgage for six
months' time on his house and lot."

"Suppose he doesn't pay when the time comes?"

"I am afraid I shall have to foreclose the mortgage."

"And he'll have to leave, won't he?"

"Unless he can raise the money some other way."

"There isn't any other way, is there?"

"Richmond might hand over the money by that time."

"Do you think he will?"

"He ought to, but I don't think there is much chance of it."

"Ben will be rather astonished when he comes home and finds his uncle
has lost his place."

"Yes, I suppose he will."

"I sha'n't be sorry for him. He puts on a good many airs, considering
how poor he is. I wish I knew how he is getting along in California."

"He may get a living there, but that is about all," said the major. "I
shouldn't be at all surprised if his uncle came to me for money to get
him home."

"You wouldn't let him have it, would you, pa?"

"I might," answered Major Sturgis, "if he would surrender the place to
me without putting me to inconvenience."

"Would you take Ben for my servant, pa, in that case?"

"Why do you want him for a servant?"

"I want to humble his pride," answered Sam, with a gleam of something
like hatred in his eyes.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE BLOW ABOUT TO FALL

All this happened soon after Ben went away. His uncle did not write him
of it, for he knew it would trouble the boy, and it could do no good.
"No, wife," he said; "Ben will have a hard row of his own to hoe. He
mustn't have any part nor lot in our troubles."

"It's very hard, Job, at our time of life," said Mrs. Stanton,
despondently.

"So it is, wife, but it may turn out for the best, after all. I haven't
given up hope that Mr. Richmond will pay the sum, so that I can take up
the mortgage. I'm goin' to see him about it to-morrow."

Uncle Job left his work the next day, and walked five miles to the store
of the man who had brought this calamity upon him.

"I've come to see you, Mr. Richmond," he said, wiping his forehead with
his red cotton handkerchief, "about that money I've had to pay."

"Oh yes," said Richmond, with his usual suavity. "I'm very sorry it
happened