He actually says 'sir!' That's something he never did in
his life before. And where he used to choose the worst boys he could
find for companions he seems to have learned to pick the best out of the
lot. He thinks there's no one in the world like that St. John boy; wants
me to give him our old yacht. Seems to have stopped bragging, too; that
used to be his besetting sin."

Uncle Teddy smiled reminiscently at this, and then, acting upon a sudden
impulse, he told the judge how the boys had cured Anthony of boasting by
forcing him to make good his words.

"So it took a lesson like that to do it?" said the judge. "Well, I guess
you're right. He ought to have had it long ago, only I've never had a
chance to do anything like that to him. His mother would have
interfered. You know how it is." He broke off with a shrug of his
shoulders.

"I can't thank you enough for taking care of them this summer," he said
earnestly.

Then Mr. Evans told him just how Katherine had influenced the Council to
consent to the coming of the twins. "So it was Katherine that did it,"
said the judge. "I am deeply in her debt. Do you happen to know of
anything she would like to have particularly? I would like to show my
appreciation in some way."

"I don't know of anything special she wants," said Mr. Evans,
"except----" And briefly he told the judge about Katherine's home
troubles.

"Do you suppose she would take the money to go to college?" asked the
judge.

Mr. Evans shook his head. "I'm afraid she won't. I offered it to her
myself. It seems that her mother is sick and her father is much
discouraged and they want her at home to look after things. It was her
own decision to go; she is determined to make the sacrifice for their
sakes. It is a noble one, you must admit, and I would feel delicate
about influencing her to do otherwise."

"Hm," said the judge. "No use offering her money then. But, by the
way--what did you say was the name of the company that her father sank
his money in?"

"Pacific Refining Company," said Mr. Evans.

"H-m-m-m," said the judge. "I happen to know a little about that
company. Peculiar case, very. Seemed sound as a rock, yet it failed
through bad management. But I happen to know that if it were backed by
somebody of good repute and put into the hands of an able manager it
would pull through and pay dividends. Trouble is nobody wants to sink
any more money in it. Possibly I could arrange to back it--Hm. I'll see