my good fortune; so far as they know I
am no better off than when I went away."

"I don't think I could have concealed my success."

"It may seem strange, but I'll explain--I want to learn who are my
friends and who are not. I am afraid I wasn't very highly thought of
when I left Burton. I was considered rather shiftless.

"I was always in for a good time, and never saved a cent. Everybody
predicted that I would fail, and I expect most wanted me to fail. There
were two or three, including my uncle, aunt and the friend who lent me
money, who wished me well.

"I mustn't forget to mention the old minister who baptized me when I was
an infant. The good old man has been preaching thirty or forty years
on a salary of four hundred dollars, and has had to run a small farm to
make both ends meet. He believed in me and gave me good advice. Outside
of these I don't remember any one who felt an interest in Jefferson
Pettigrew."

"You will have the satisfaction of letting them see that they did not do
you justice."

"Yes, but I may not tell them--that is none except my true friends. If
I did, they would hover round me and want to borrow money, or get me to
take them out West with me. So I have hit upon a plan. I shall want to
use money, but I will pretend it is yours."

Rodney opened his eyes in surprise.

"I will pass you off as a rich friend from New York, who feels an
interest in me and is willing to help me."

Rodney smiled.

"I don't know if I can look the character," he said.

"Oh yes you can. You are nicely dressed, while I am hardly any better
dressed than when I left Burton."

"I have wondered why you didn't buy some new clothes when you were able
to afford it."

"You see we Western miners don't care much for style, perhaps not
enough. Still I probably shall buy a suit or two, but not till I have
made my visit home. I want to see how people will receive me, when they
think I haven't got much money. I shall own up to about five hundred
dollars, but that isn't enough to dazzle people even in a small country
village."

"I am wiling to help you in any way you wish, Mr. Pettigrew."

"Then I think we shall get some amusement out of it. I shall represent
you as worth about a hundred thousand dollars."

"I wish I were."

"Very likely you will be some time if you go out to Montana with me."

"How large a place is Burton?"

"It has not quite a thousand inhabitants. It is set among the hills,
and has but one