s over here this morning."

"Well?"

"He says that boy Kit is coming home in a few days."

"What if he is?"

"He's goin' to bring him over here, and apprentice him to me again."

"I should think once would be enough, considerin' how he treated you."

"He ain't goin' to serve me so again, you may bet on that. I'm goin' to
have my way this time."

"Ain't you afraid he'll run away again?"

"Not much. The circus has shut up, and he'll have to stay with me, or
starve. His uncle tells me I can punish him when I think he deserves
it."

"I hope you won't be disappointed, Mr. Bickford, but that boy's rather
hard to handle."

"I know it, but I'm the one that can handle him."

"You thought so before, the evening we went to the show."

"I know so this time."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CONCLUSION.

Several days passed. On Thursday afternoon Kit arrived in Smyrna,
accompanied by his generous California friend Henry Miller. They put up
at the hotel, and after dinner Kit walked over to the house occupied by
his uncle.

Mr. Watson saw him from the window, and hastening to the door opened it
himself.

"Good afternoon, Uncle Stephen," said Kit.

"So you're back!" said his uncle curtly.

"Yes; did you expect me?"

"James Schuyler told me you were coming."

"Yes, I wrote him that he might inform you."

"That was a good thought of yours. I have made arrangements for you."

"What arrangements?"

"I shall take you over to Oakford on Saturday, and place you with Aaron
Bickford to learn the blacksmith's trade. This time I'd advise you not
to run away."

Kit didn't exhibit any dismay when his uncle informed him of the plan he
had arranged for him.

"I will talk this over with you, Uncle Stephen," he said. "With your
permission I will go into the house."

"You can stay here till Saturday. Then you will go with me to Oakford."

Kit followed his uncle into the house. "I have something important to
say to you, Uncle Stephen," he went on. "Sit down, and I will tell you
what I have discovered within the last few months."

Stephen Watson anxiously awaited Kit's communication.

"Can he have found out?" he asked himself. "But no! it is impossible."

"I will give you five minutes to tell me your astonishing discovery," he
said, with an attempt at his usual sneer.

"I may need a longer time, but I will be as quick as I can. Among the
places where our circus exhibited was Glendale, Pennsylvania.
Remembering that yo