hought of how I enjoyed myself at your home, and wished I
could call in and take a cup of tea with you and your mother.

About that land you asked me to see, I've got good news for you.
There's a town built around it, and the price has gone up to fancy
figures. There's a party here that wants to buy it for five thousand
dollars, but I think I can get a little more. If your mother will send
me a power of attorney, I will sell it, and send you on the money. I'll
do my best for you. No wonder that old skinflint, your uncle, wanted to
buy it. He'd have made a big thing out of it. He was a fool not to take
it at your own figures.

I hope you are all well, and I shouldn't wonder if I might see you
pretty soon. I've been lucky myself, and made a respectable pile. Old
Tom Sloan doesn't get left if he can help it.

Well, good-by. Send on the power of attorney by return of mail.

Yours till death,

TOM SLOAN.

"Five thousand dollars!" ejaculated Mrs. Fenton. "I can't believe it."

"You will, mother, when you get the money. There's no time to be lost.
I'll go out at once and get the power of attorney, and we'll write at
once, telling Mr. Sloan to do whatever he thinks best. Do you agree to
that, mother?"

"Yes, Fred. He is a good man and I trust him entirely."

CHAPTER XXXVII.

COUSIN FERGUSON.

In a fortnight Fred received from Colorado an order on a New York
banker for six thousand five hundred dollars, being the purchase money
on the Colorado lands.

He at once carried it to Mr. Wainwright, and invested it in securities
recommended by that gentleman.

"I congratulate you heartily, Fred," said the banker. "I didn't know
that I was taking into my employ a young man of fortune."

"It has come upon me so suddenly that I can't realize it myself."

"I consider you worthy of your good luck, my boy. You ought to save up
money out of your wages."

"I intend to sir, but I am going to give my mother a better home now
that I can afford it, and will see that my little brother has a better
education than I have had."

"It is not too late to supply the deficiency in your own case. You
cannot do better than join the evening classes of the Young Men's
Christian Association, and do what you can to improve yourself."

"I will follow your advice, Mr. Wainwright. Now that I am no longer
anxious about money matters, I want to qualify myself for a better
social position."

Only two days after the receipt of the money fr