on that score,"
interposed the minister. "I know where Chester's money comes from, and
I can assure you that it is honestly earned, more so than that which
you receive from the whisky you sell."

Silas Tripp was a little afraid of the minister, who was very
plain-spoken, and turned away muttering.

The crowd dispersed, some following Constable Perkins, who took his
prisoner to the lockup.

CHAPTER IX.

NEW PLANS FOR CHESTER.

Two days later Chester found another letter from Mr. Conrad at the post
office. In it were two bills--a ten and a five.

Mr. Conrad wrote:

"I have disposed of your two sketches to the same paper. The
publisher offered me fifteen dollars for the two, and I thought it
best to accept. Have you ever thought of coming to New York to
live? You would be more favorably placed for disposing of your
sketches, and would find more subjects in a large city than in a
small village. The fear is that, if you continue to live in
Wyncombe, you will exhaust your invention.

"There is one objection, the precarious nature of the business. You
might sometimes go a month, perhaps, without selling a sketch, and
meanwhile your expenses would go on. I think, however, that I have
found a way of obviating this objection. I have a friend--Mr.
Bushnell--who is in the real estate business, and he will take you
into his office on my recommendation. He will pay you five dollars
a week if he finds you satisfactory. This will afford you a steady
income, which you can supplement by your art work. If you decide to
accept my suggestion come to New York next Saturday, and you can
stay with me over Sunday, and go to work on Monday morning.

"Your sincere friend,

"HERBERT CONRAD."

Chester read this letter in a tumult of excitement. The great city had
always had a fascination for him, and he had hoped, without much
expectation of the hope being realized, that he might one day find
employment there. Now the opportunity had come, but could he accept it?
The question arose, How would his mother get along in his absence? She
would be almost entirely without income. Could he send her enough from
the city to help her along?

He went to his mother and showed her the letter.

"Fifteen dollars!" she exclaimed. "Why, that is fine, Chester. I shall
begin to be proud of you. Indeed, I am proud of you now."

"I can hardly realize it myself, mother.