give you what's equal to four dollars and a
half."

Bert had heard something of the kind of board supplied by the farmer,
and he was hardly prepared to rate it so high.

"It wouldn't be worth that to me," he said. "I would rather work for
three dollars and a half in cash, and board at home."

"I've got to have my boy in the house," said Silas Wilson decidedly.
"Come, now, what do you say?"

He regarded Bert with some anxiety, for he had been suddenly left in the
lurch by a hired man who had received a better offer elsewhere, and
hardly knew where to turn for assistance.

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Bert. "I've got to go to New York on
Thursday on business, but I'll come and work for you till Wednesday
night for half a dollar and my board."

"I'll give you thirty-five cents," replied the farmer cautiously.

Bert shook his head.

"Forty, then, and that's high pay for a half grown boy."

"I'm more than half grown," returned Bert. "It's no use, Mr. Wilson, I
won't take less than fifty cents."

"Then jump on the wagon. It's a big price to pay, but I'm in a hole, and
won't stop to dicker."

"I will go and tell my mother first."

"Well, hurry up, for part of the day is gone already."

"I don't believe you'll like it, Bert," said Mrs. Barton.

"Nor I, but I made up my mind to accept the first offer I got, and I
shall feel better satisfied if I keep my word. I'll come round this
evening, after work, and tell you how I like it as far as I've got."

Bert seated himself in the wagon next to the farmer.

"Be you the boy that Jones charged with stealin'?" asked Silas.

"Yes, sir."

"You didn't do it?" asked Silas, in some apprehension.

"No, of course not!" answered Bert, indignantly. "Didn't you know I was
acquitted, and that it was shown that there were two twenty-dollar
bills?"

"It's wicked to steal," observed the farmer, apparently a little anxious
still.

"Of course it is."

"One of the boys that worked for me stole some money from a
chest-of-drawers in my chamber. You see Mis' Wilson and me sleep in a
bedroom on the first floor openin' out of the settin' room."

"Did the boy take much?" asked Bert, in some curiosity.

"Yes; he took a twenty-five cent piece," answered Silas Wilson, soberly.

Bert wanted to laugh, but controlled his facial muscles, though he eyed
his companion with a queer look.

"That was a good deal of money," he said, soberly.

"Yes, it was."

"How did you find him