, Luke, you are
welcome to it. Have you anyone dependent upon you?"

"My mother. She will be very much pleased."

"That's right, my lad. Always look out for your mother. You owe her a
debt which you can never repay."

"That is true, sir. But I would like to use a part of this money for
some one else."

"For yourself?"

"No; for a friend."

Then he told in simple language of Jim Norman, and how seriously his
family was affected by his sickness and enforced idleness.

"Jim has no money to buy medicine," he concluded. "If you don't
object, Mr. Afton, I will give Jim's mother half this money, after
buying some cough medicine out of it."

The merchant listened with approval.

"I am glad, Luke, you feel for others," he said, "but I can better
afford to help your friend than you. Here is a five-dollar bill. Tell
the boy it is from a friend, and if he should need more let me know."

"Thank you, sir," said Luke, fairly radiant as he thought of Jim's
delight. "I won't take up any more of your time, but will bid you
good-morning."

Probably Mr. Afton wished to give his clerks a lesson, for he followed
Luke to the door of the outer office, and shook hands cordially with
him, saying: "I shall be glad to have you call, when you wish to see
me, Luke;" adding, "I may possibly have some occasional work for you
to do. If so, I know where to find you."

"Thank you, sir."

"What's got into the old man?" thought Eustis Clark.

As Mr. Afton returned to his sanctum, Eustis said with a grin, holding
up the card:

"Mr. Walton left his card for you, thinking you might not be in time
to see him."

"Give it to me, if you please," and the rich man took the card without
a smile, and put it into his vest pocket, not seeming in the least
surprised.

"Mr. Walton called to pay me some money," he said, gravely. "Whenever
he calls invite him to wait till my return."

CHAPTER VII

A STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Luke went home that evening in high spirits. The gift he had received
from Mr. Afton enabled him to carry out a plan he had long desired to
realize. It was to secure a sewing machine for his mother, and thus
increase her earnings while diminishing her labors. He stopped at an
establishment not far from Clark Street, and entering the showroom,
asked: "What is the price of your sewing machines?"

"One in a plain case will cost you twenty-five dollars."

"Please show me one."

"Do you want it for your wife?"

"She may use