cessary to weary my readers.

Larson must have recalled what Dick had told him about Uncle Ezra being
a wealthy man, for, as subsequent events disclosed, the disappointed
army officer went almost at once to Dankville. And there he laid
before the miserly man a plan which Uncle Ezra eventually took up,
strange as it may seen.

It was the bait of the twenty thousand dollar prize that "took," in his
case.

Larson had some trouble in reaching Mr. Larabee, who was a bit shy of
strangers. When one, (in this case Larson) was announced by Aunt
Samantha, Mr. Larabee asked:

"Does he look like an agent?"

"No, Ez, I can't say he does."

"Does he look like a collector?"

"No, Ez, not the usual kind."

"Or a missionary, looking for funds to buy pocket handkerchiefs for the
heathen?"

"Hardly. He's smoking, and I wish you'd hurry and git him out of the
parlor, for he's sure to drop some ashes on the carpet that we've had
ever since we got married."

"Smoking in my parlor!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "I'll get him out of
there. The idea! Why, if any sun is let in there it will spoil the
colors. How'd you come to open that?" he asked of his wife, wrathfully.

"I didn't. But I was so surprised at havin' someone come to the front
door, which they never do, that I didn't know what to say. He asked if
you was to home, and I said you was. Then he said: 'Well, I'll wait
for him in here,' and he pushed open the parlor door and went in. I
had it open the least mite, for I thought I saw a speck of sun comin'
through a crack in the blinds and I was goin' in to close it when the
bell rang."

"The idea! Sitting in my parlor!" muttered Uncle Ezra. "I'll get him
out of that. You're sure he ain't a book peddler?"

"He don't seem to have a thing to sell except nerve," said Aunt
Samantha, "and he sure has got plenty of that."

"I'll fix him!" cried Uncle Ezra.

But he proved to be no match for the smooth sharper in the shape of
Larson.

"Did you want to see me?" demanded the crabbed old man.

"I did," answered Larson coolly, as he continued to puff away at his
cigar. "I came to offer you a chance to make twenty thousand dollars."

"Twenty thousand dollars!" Uncle Ezra nearly lost his breath, he was
so surprised.

"That's what I said! I'm in a position to give you a good chance to
make that much money, and perhaps more. If you will give me half an
hour of your time--"

"Look here!" interrupted Mr. Larabee, "this a