rst. The exception proved to be
a badly-written, ill-spelled, but evidently sincere, homily on the dangers
of wealth, and ended with a fierce warning of the dire consequences of
disregarding its admonition. It was signed simply--"A friend."

"You'll burn that, I should think!" was Miss Jemima's scornful comment on
this ill-judged missive.

"No," said "Cobbler" Horn, putting the letter into his breast pocket; "I
shall keep it. It was well meant, and will do me good."

By tea-time their task was finished; and "Cobbler" Horn heaved a sigh of
relief as he rose from his seat. But just then the postman knocked at the
door, and handed in another and still larger supply of letters, at the
sight of which the "Golden Shoemaker" staggered back aghast. The fame of
his fortune had indeed got wind.

"Ah," exclaimed his sister, who was setting the tea-things, "you'll have
to engage a secretary, as I said."

CHAPTER XII.

"COBBLER" HORN PAYS A VISIT TO HIS LANDLORD.

The day following his trip to London "Cobbler" Horn paid a visit to his
landlord. His purpose was to buy the house in which he lived. Though he
realized that he must now take up his actual abode in a house more suited
to his altered circumstances, he wished to retain the possession and use
of the one in which he had lived so long. The humble cottage was endeared
to him by many ties. Here the best part of his life had been passed. Here
his brief but blissful married life had been spent, and here his precious
wife had died. Of this house his darling little Marian had been the light
and joy; and her blithe and loving spirit seemed to haunt it still. These
memories, reinforced by a generous purpose on behalf of the poor
neighbours whom he had been wont to help, decided him to endeavour to make
the house absolutely his own.

"Cobbler" Horn did not tell his sister of his intention with regard to the
house. He simply said, after breakfast, that he was going out for an hour;
and, though Miss Jemima looked at him very hard, she allowed him to depart
unquestioned.

"Cobbler" Horn's landlord who was reputed to be enormously rich, lived in
one of the most completely hidden parts of the town, which was approached
by a labyrinth of very narrow and dirty streets. As "Cobbler" Horn pursued
his tortuous way to this secluded abode, he pondered, with some misgiving,
the chances that his errand would succeed. He knew his landlord to be