st you."

"Won't you take me back into your service, sir?" entreated John
Tremlett desperately.

"Never!" said Mr. Baldwin emphatically.

"What will become of me?" ejaculated the miserable young man,
shedding maudlin tears. "I am penniless."

"I will not wholly cast you off. I will authorize Mr. Brief to pay
you eight hundred dollars during the next year, in monthly
installments. I hope you will turn over a new leaf."

"I will, sir; I will indeed," said Tremlett; but Mr. Baldwin, knowing
his past hypocrisy, did not put much faith in his penitence.

"I hope so, for your own sake," he said briefly. "You can go now,
sir. At the end of a month you can come back, and Mr. Brief
will pay you your monthly allowance."

"How can I live till then?" asked Tremlett. "Can't he pay it sooner?
I have but a dollar left."

"Sell some of your jewelry, that diamond ring, for instance. It will
maintain you till the money is payable."

John Tremlett left the office crestfallen, and cursing his foolish
prodigality, which had lost him a fine fortune.

"What are your plans, Mr. Baldwin?" asked the lawyer. "Shall
you remain in Montreal?"

"No, Mr. Brief; there is nothing to keep me here now. I shall make
my home in the States. This boy I have tested and found to be
true gold. He will not deceive me as John Tremlett has. With him
and his aunt I propose to make my home for the little time I have left."

"A very fine boy!" said Mr. Brief, regarding Ben in quite a different
light now that he was indirectly acknowledged to be a rich man's
heir.

"I shall leave you to manage my property here, Mr. Brief, for the
present at least. You will transmit the income to me as it accrues."

"You shall not repent your confidence, sir," said the lawyer. "How
soon do you leave the city?"

"To-morrow. Will that suit you, Ben?"

"Oh, yes, Uncle Matthew."

"He is a lucky boy," thought Mr. Brief, as the two went out. "His
future is provided for."

Chapter XXXVIII

Conclusion

"Ben," said Mr. Baldwin, "let us talk over your plans. Do you wish
to remain at the store, or would you like to get a better education?"

"I would get a better education if I could afford it, sir."

"You can afford it on an income of a thousand dollars a year."

"A thousand dollars a year!" exclaimed Ben.

"That is the income I shall allow you. Out of this you will be expected
to pay all of your expenses."

"How can I thank you, sir? Wo