ot
explained, had been in company with his friend the engineer; that the
engineer had said, "Tarbox, you're a born contractor," and that Claude
and he would make a "strong team;" that Mr. Tarbox's favorite study
was human nature; that he knew talent when he saw it; had studied
Claude; had fully expected him to decline to be his employee, and
liked him the better for so doing.

"That was just a kind of test vote; see?"

Then Mr. Tarbox offered Claude a partnership; not an equal one, but
withal a fair interest.

"We've got to commence small and branch out gradually; see?" And
Claude saw.

"Now, you wonder why I don't go in alone. Well, I'll tell you; and
when I tell you, I'll astonish you. I lack education! Now, Claude, I'm
taking you into my confidence. You've done nothing but go to school
and study for about six years. I had a different kind of father from
yours; I never got one solid year's schooling, all told, in my life.
I've picked up cords of information, but an ounce of education's worth
a ton of information. Don't you believe that? eh? it is so! I say it,
and I'm the author of the A. of U. I. I like to call it that, because
it brings you and I so near together; see?" The speaker smiled, was
still, and resumed:

"That's why I need you. And I'm just as sure you need me. I need not
only the education you have now, but what you're getting every day.
When you see me you see a man who is always looking awa-a-ay ahead. I
see what you're going to be, and I'm making this offer to the Claude
St. Pierre of the future."

Mr. Tarbox waited for a reply. The avenue had been passed, the railway
crossed, and the hedge skirted. They loitered slowly into the
governor's grove, under whose canopy the beams of the late afternoon
sun were striking and glancing. But all their light seemed hardly as
much as that which danced in the blue eyes of Mr. Tarbox while Claude
slowly said:

"I dunno if we can fix dat. I was glad to see you comin'. I reckon you
jus' right kind of man I want. I jus' make a new invention. I t'ink 'f
you find dat's good, dat be cawntrac' enough for right smart while.
And beside', I t'ink I invent some mo' b'fo' long."

But Mr. Tarbox was not rash. He only asked quiet and careful questions
for some time. The long sunset was sending its last rays across the
grove-dotted land, and the birds in every tree were filling the air
with their sunset song-burst, when the two friends re-entered the
avenue of oaks. Th