your power to guard my people from starvation.' So,
Bob, I've got to do it if I am ever to have peace of mind, and you've
got to help me.

"Do you think that these things just happened, Bob? Or were they
brought about by Divine direction? Don't you think that this
combination of incidents points out to us our life work? Don't you
think they suggest that we are to unite our talents and so use them
that we shall not only help ourselves but help others? Come, Bob, what
do you say?"

For a moment Bob did not speak, and when he did his voice betrayed
deep emotion.

"Th' way you puts un, Shad, I'm thinkin', now, you'm right. 'Tis th'
Lard's way o' bringin' things about. You'm wonderful good, Shad, t'
think o' me for a partner, an' I'll be wonderful proud t' be partners
with you, Shad."

"That's the way to talk, old man!" exclaimed Shad, grasping Bob's
hand.

"I'm not knowin' how t' thank you, Shad," replied Bob, his heart
overflowing.

"That feeling is reciprocated, Bob, so we won't either of us thank the
other. Now we've agreed to our partnership, we'll have plenty of time
to arrange the details of our business before we go to the Bay, and
then I think you'll have to make a trip to St. Johns or Boston with me
to have the co-partnership agreement drawn and executed in proper
legal form."

Shad explained to Bob that at the time of his birth his grandfather
set aside one hundred thousand dollars to be held in trust for his
benefit. It was provided that the income of this trust fund was to be
paid to his guardian annually, upon his birthday, to be applied to his
immediate needs, or to constitute an annual allowance of spending
money, until he attained his majority, when he was to receive the
principal.

"But I've never spent any of Grandfather's allowance," said Shad.
"Father got me everything I needed and kept me supplied with spending
money, and every year when the income from the trust fund came in
Father bought government bonds with it and placed the bonds in a
safety deposit vault for me.

"These bonds amount to more than the principal of the trust fund
now--I don't know just how much, but I know there's considerably more
than one hundred thousand dollars, for they have been earning interest
all these years.

"This money is mine to use as I see fit, and I'm going to invest one
hundred thousand dollars of it in our partnership and hold the balance
as a reserve. Of course my sister will have to act for me unt