thing against Percy."

"I ain't afeared of him, Ralph. If he comes around, he'll get the shot,
sure pop. But I ain't calkerlatin' he'll come, because I give him warnin',
and he's too precious scared o' his hide."

"I can't understand how the squire can put up with Percy's ways," said
Ralph, after a pause. "He seems to ride right over his father."

"Squire Paget will rue it one of these days," returned Mr. Gillup, with a
grave shake of his head. "Boys as is allowed their own way like that never
amount to much."

The conversation helped to pass the time, and almost before they knew it,
Hopeville was reached. Ralph thanked the farmer and left the wagon.

After leaving a bill in every store and house in the village, Ralph walked
around to the various summer boarding-places. This took time, and ere he
had finished it was dark.

"There! I imagine that is one fair day's work done," he said, at last, as
he reached his final handful of bills. "I've covered a good many miles
since I left home this morning."

He was fortunate enough to catch a ride back with a man who was carting a
load of garden truck down to the lake for shipment, and he entered the
cottage just as the clock was striking seven.

"Done for the day, and glad of it, mother!" he cried.

"You are not used to tramping around, Ralph," she returned, as she kissed
him.

"That's a fact. I don't believe I would make a very good tramp, anyway," he
went on.

"I trust you will never be reduced to that," she shuddered.

"No, I'm going to be something better than a tramp."

"Where have you been?" asked Mrs. Nelson.

Sitting down, Ralph told the story of his day's work. Like the true mother
she was, Mrs. Nelson was thoroughly interested in all he had to say.

"To-morrow I shall go to Silver Cove and Rickson's Corners," he said. "And
the day after to the hotels up at the head of the lake."

"I shouldn't think it would pay Mr. Dunham to advertise in this way."

"I think it will. Up at Hopeville I met a gentleman who read the circular
eagerly. He said he had been hunting for a store where he might buy some
toys and games for his children, and he is going to visit Mr. Dunham's
place to-morrow. Half-a-dozen good customers would pay for the bills and
for the distributing, too."

"If Mr. Dunham gets such an increase in trade, perhaps he will give you a
place in the store," suggested Mrs. Nelson.

"That's so. I'll speak to him about it."

During the evening meal,