to a handsome dining-room in the rear extension, where a
lady was already sitting at one end of the table.

"I bring you two guests, Mrs. Chester," said her husband. "These two
young gentlemen have brought me my diamond ring."

"You are, indeed, fortunate in recovering it," said his wife. "Young
gentlemen, you can sit, one on this side, the other opposite. I think,
John, you will have to introduce them by name."

"Really, that is more than I can do," said the lawyer, laughing.

"My name is Henry Martin," said Henry, who was perfectly
self-possessed.

"Mine is Sam Barker," said the young outlaw.

"Shall I send you some soup, Mr. Martin?"

"Yes, thank you."

"And you, Mr. Barker?"

Sam stared and wanted to laugh. It seemed so droll to be called "Mr.
Barker," but he managed to answer properly.

Mr. Chester was a man of some humor, and he enjoyed Sam's evident
embarrassment. He took pains to be ceremoniously polite. Sam, who was
used to the free and easy ways of a restaurant, hardly knew how to
act. Henry Martin, though now thrown upon his own exertions, had been
well brought up, and betrayed no awkwardness.

At the close of the meal, to which Sam, despite his bashfulness, did
full justice, Mr. Chester opened his pocket-book and produced
twenty-five dollars in bills.

"Is this to be divided between you?" he inquired.

"No, sir," said Henry; "Sam found the ring. It is all for him."

"Allow me to offer you five dollars, also," said the lawyer, who was
pleased with Henry's manner.

"Thank you, sir, I would rather not take it."

"At all events, if I can ever be of any service to you, let me know."

"Thank you, sir."

Soon afterward the boys left the house.

CHAPTER X.

SAM'S INVESTMENT.

"What a fool you were not to take the money he offered you!" said Sam
when they were in the street.

"Why should I? I didn't find the ring. I had no claim to it."

"No matter, if he was willing to give it to you. He can afford it."

"I have no doubt of it; but I didn't want to take it."

"You ain't much like me, Henry. You wouldn't catch me refusing."

"I presume not," said Henry, smiling.

"I say, wasn't that a tiptop dinner?" said Sam, smacking his lips as
he thought of it. "It beats the restaurant all hollow. We'd have had
to pay a dollar apiece for such a lot of things, and then they
wouldn't have been so good."

"That's so, Sam. We can't expect to live like that every day."

"There's one thing se