ning from his visit to Old Ben's
boathouse.

As the two riders approached each other, the young man glared darkly at
our hero.

"Hullo, where are you bound?" he demanded sharply.

"I don't think that is any of your business, St. John," replied Jack,
who was just then in no humor to be polite.

"Humph! you needn't get on your high horse about it!"

"I am not on a high horse, only on a small pony."

"Don't joke me, Jack--I don't like it."

"As you please, St. John."

"What's got into you this morning?" demanded the young man curiously.

"Well, if you want to know, I don't like the way you have been talking
about me."

"Oho! so that is how the wind blows."

"You have taken the pains to call me a nobody," went on Jack hotly.

"I told the truth, didn't I?"

"I consider myself just as good as you, St. John Ruthven."

"Do you indeed!" sneered the spendthrift.

"I do indeed, and in the future I will thank you to be more careful of
what you say about me."

"I have a right to tell the truth to anybody I please."

"I don't deny that. But I consider my blood just as good as yours."

"Do you? I don't."

"Your opinion isn't worth anything to me."

"Humph! still riding a high horse, I see. Let me tell you, you are not
half as good as a Ruthven, and never will be. How my aunt could take you
in is a mystery to me."

"She is not as hard-hearted as you are."

"She is very foolish."

"She is my foster mother, and I'll thank you to speak respectfully of
her," cried Jack, his eyes flashing.

"Of course you'll stick by her--as long as she'll let you. You have a
nice ax to grind."

"I don't understand your last words."

"She owns considerable property, and you will try to get a big share of
it for yourself, when she dies."

"I have never given her property a thought. I want only what is
rightfully coming to me."

"There is nothing coming to you by right. The property ought to go to
Marion and the other Ruthvens."

"By other Ruthvens I suppose you mean yourself."

"I am one of them."

"Are you so anxious to get hold of my aunt's plantation?"

"I don't want to see my aunt waste it on such a low upstart as you!"

Jack's eyes flashed fire, and riding close to St. John he held up his
little riding whip.

"You shan't call me an upstart!" he ejaculated. "Take it back, or I'll
hit you with this!"

"You won't dare to touch me!" howled St. John in a rage. "You are an
upstart, and worse, to my way of thinki