His library was at her disposal.

"You have many beautiful things," said Margaret Elizabeth. "This
portrait above the mantel, for instance, seems to me very interesting."

The portrait in question was rather a splendid one of a military-looking
man probably in his thirties. One of the best examples of Jouett's work
it was generally considered, Mr. Knight explained, and said to have been
an admirable likeness of his uncle, General Waite, at the time it was
painted.

It was inexplicable that as Margaret Elizabeth gazed up at the general
the eyes beneath the stern brows should become the eyes of the Candy
Man. But her exasperation at this absurd illusion passed quickly into
horrified embarrassment, when Virginia, edging toward the master of the
house, asked explosively, "Say, have you really got a room full of
gold?"

"There is one thing certain, you can never go there with me again," said
Miss Bentley, on their way across the street.

"But Aleck said----" began the culprit.

"Never mind what he said. Aleck is a very ignorant little boy. People
don't keep gold in rooms. If they have it they put it in the bank or
send it to the mint."

CHAPTER EIGHT

_In which the Miser's past history is touched upon; which shows how
his solitude is again invaded, and how he makes a new friend._

"There isn't any mystery about _him_, so far as I know," said the
Reporter, who was seated as usual upon the carriage block. The Candy
Wagon continued to act as a magnet for him, and in season and out his
genial presence confronted the Candy Man.

If his emphasis upon the pronoun was noticed, it was ignored. The
mystery was, the Candy Man replied, how with such a face he could be a
miser.

"Oh, he's a bit nutty, of course. My grandmother says his money came to
him unexpectedly and the shock was too much for him. They say he has a
notion he is holding it in trust. He is rational enough in every other
way, a shrewd investor, in fact. His uncle, General Waite, who left him
the money, was a connection of my grandmother's."

"The Miser is a cousin then?"

"Not on your tintype, my friend. Old Knight was a nephew of the
general's wife, you see."

"And there were no other heirs?" asked the Candy Man.

"There was an own nephew, I have heard, who mysteriously disappeared
shortly before the general's death. I have heard my grandmother mention
it, but it was long before my day. Why are you interested?"

Even to himself the Candy Ma