m to lend me five dollars. I meant it for you."

"Did he give it to you?"

"He wouldn't give me a cent. He is mean and miserly!"

"I don't know. He knows very well that you are no friend of his, though
he doesn't know how much harm you have done him."

"He's rolling in money. However, I've put a spoke in his wheel, I hope."

"How?"

"I wrote an anonymous letter to Mr. Sargent telling him that Ropes was
discharged from the store on suspicion of theft."

"You are a precious scamp, Jasper."

"What do you mean?"

"You are not content with getting Ropes discharged for something which
you yourself did----"

"And you too."

"And I too. I accept the amendment. Not content with that, you try to
get him discharged from his present position."

"Then he might have lent me the money," said Jasper sullenly.

"It wouldn't have been a loan. It would have been a gift. But no matter
about that. I want a dollar."

"I can't give it to you."

"Then I shall call at the store tomorrow morning and tell Mr. Goodnow
about the stolen goods."

Finding that Carton was in earnest Jasper finally, but with great
reluctance, drew out a dollar and handed it to his companion.

"There, I hope that will satisfy you," he said spitefully.

"It will--for the present."

"I wish he'd get run over or something," thought Jasper. "He seems to
expect me to support him, and that on seven dollars a week."

Fortunately for Jasper, Philip Carton obtained employment the next day
which lasted for some time, and as he was paid ten dollars a week he was
not under the necessity of troubling his old confederate for loans.

Now and then Jasper and Rodney met, but there were no cordial relations
between them. Jasper could not forgive Rodney for refusing to lend him
money, and Rodney was not likely to forget the anonymous letter by which
Jasper had tried to injure him.

So three months passed. One day Mr. Sargent arrived at home before it
was time for Rodney to leave.

"I am glad to see you, Rodney," said his employer. "I have some news for
you which I am afraid will not be entirely satisfactory to you."

"What is it, sir?"

"For the last three years I have been wishing to go to Europe with my
wife and Arthur. The plan has been delayed, because I could not make
satisfactory business arrangements. Now, however, that difficulty has
been overcome, and I propose to sail in about two weeks."

"I hope you'll enjoy your trip, sir."

"Thank you. Of co