Frank, I'm offerin' you a bargain."

Just then Frank Shelton, who was looking out of the window, exclaimed in
surprise:

"Why, there's Bob Coverdale!"

"Where?"

"He just walked by, with a smaller boy alongside."

"You don't say so!" uttered Mr. Jones, hardly knowing whether to be glad
or sorry. "Well, he's come in time to bid good-by to his old home. I'll
go up to-morrow, first thing, and settle this matter. I s'pose they'll
try to beg off, but it won't be any use."

Robert had written to the hermit from Columbus a letter which conveyed
the glad tidings of his success. It filled the heart of the recluse with
a great and abounding joy.

Life seemed wholly changed for him. Now he felt that he had something to
live for, and he determined to change his course of life entirely. He
would move to Boston or New York and resume the social position which he
had abandoned. There he would devote himself to the training and
education of his boy.

And Robert--yes, he would richly reward the boy who had restored to him
the son lost so long. He would not yet decide what he would do for him,
but he felt that there was no reward too great for such a service.

He knew on what day to expect the two boys, for Robert had informed him
by letter. Restless, he waited for the moment which should restore his
son to his arms. He took a position on the beach in front of the
entrance to the cave and looked anxiously for the approach of the two
boys.

No longer was he clad in his hermit dress, but from a trunk he had drawn
out a long-disused suit, made for him in other days by a fashionable
tailor on Broadway, and he had carefully trimmed and combed his
neglected locks.

"My boy must not be ashamed of my appearance," he said proudly. "My
hermit life is over. Henceforth I will live as a man among men."

Presently his waiting glance was rewarded. Two boys, one of whom he
recognized as Robert, descended the cliff and walked briskly toward him
on the firm sand beach.

He did not wait now, but hurried toward them. He fixed his eyes eagerly
upon the second boy.

Julian had much improved in appearance since we first made his
acquaintance. It does not take long to restore strength and bloom into a
boy of sixteen. He was slender still, but the hue of health mantled his
cheeks; he was no longer sad, but hopeful, and in his delicate and
refined features his father could see a strong resemblance to the wife
he had lost.

"Julian!" said Rob