ught to contribute the
expense of his sickness."

"I will go and see him," said Chester. So he selected a time when
business would be slack in the store, and called in. He found Mr. Trip
in a peevish mood.

"How are you, Chester?" he said. "I wish you was back."

"Why, Mr. Tripp? You've got Abel Wood in my place."

"He ain't of much account," grumbled Silas. "What do you think he done
this mornin'?"

"I don't know, sir."

"He smashed two dozen eggs, and eggs twenty-two cents a dozen. But I'll
take it out of his salary. He's dreadful awkward, that boy!"

"Poor Abel!" thought Chester. "I am afraid he won't have much salary
coming to him at the end of the week."

"You never broke no eggs while you was here, Chester."

"No; I don't think I did."

"You'd ought to have stayed."

"I couldn't stay on the salary you offered. But, Mr. Tripp, I've come
here on business."

"Hey? What about?"

"Your nephew, Walter Bruce, is staying at our house."

"Is he?" returned Silas Tripp, indifferently.

"And he is sick."

"I don't feel no interest in him," said Silas, doggedly.

"Are you willing to pay his expenses? He has no money."

"No, I ain't," snarled Silas. "Ef you take him you take him at your own
risk."

"You wouldn't have us turn him into the street?" said Chester,
indignantly.

"You can do as you like. It ain't no affair of mine. I s'pose he sent
you here."

"No, he didn't; and I wouldn't have come if we had been better fixed.
But we haven't enough money to live on ourselves."

"Then tell him to go away. I never wanted him to come to Wyncombe."

"It seems to me you ought to do something for your own nephew."

"I can't support all my relations, and I won't," said Silas, testily.
"It ain't no use talkin'. Walter Bruce is shif'less and lazy, or he'd
take care of himself. I ain't no call to keep him."

"Then you won't do anything for him? Even two dollars a week would help
him very much."

"Two dollars a week!" ejaculated Silas. "You must think I am made of
money. Why, two dollars a week would make a hundred and four dollars a
year."

"That wouldn't be much for a man of your means, Mr. Tripp."

"You talk foolish, Chester. I have to work hard for a livin'. If I
helped all my shif'less relations I'd end my days in the poorhouse."

"I don't think you'll go there from that cause," Chester could not help
saying.

"I guess not. I ain't a fool. Let every tub stand on its own bottom, I
say. But I won't