d season. The early boarders-"early birds" Crackit always termed t

by Sister, and some of the young men were g

, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster. Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe

a of hern is dead," whispered Sister in Hira

ith his head on one side, "secrets, eh? Insid

during the next two days. And for Hiram S

nobody who would hire a boy at once. Some of the farmers doubted if he knew as much about farm-work as he claim

as shrewd a man as the next one. He saw plainly that his junior clerk

lthough Hiram prided himself on do

oot on Saturdays. He was supposed to help-to run errands, and take out

urchins of his own kind-"alley rats" his father angrily called them-or leading a preda

am. He had not forgiven the bigger

d they're shrunk and stained," snarled the younger Dan, hovering about Hiram as the latter re-d

m. "Guess not. Go look in the basket under t

t and maw cut out the specks and slice

father," s

Dwight, knowing very well wha

he golden globe on the apex o

ried Hiram, and seized t

rned, and kicked and squalled, and Hiram was just wrenching

. "Fighting, are ye? Why don't you tack

chance and broke into woefu

policeman, Hiram," cried "Mr. Dwi

e me first, won't you?" su

ium. "Dan! let them oranges alone. And don't you go away from here. I'll want you all day t

breath. He had part of his wish, that was sure. He

t was plain that he had intended quarreling with Hiram and getting rid of him at this time, for he had the you

of the day. I ought to get my wages in full for the

pleasant as it had been-Hiram was more than a litt

here I'll call in the officer on the beat-yes, I will! I don't know but I ought to deduct the cost of Dan, Ju

hat was the use? He took the money, sl

out of sight when a man driving a span of handsome bay hors

in the gray coat and hat, in his hearty tones. "You are? Glad

Senior, doubtfully, and rubbing his hand, for th

ame. I didn't ask him. He's not much more than a boy-a sturdy youngster with a q

t. "Them's all the clerks I got behind the counter-an

it was so dark I could not see that fellow's face,

Dwight. "If you were looking for him, you'd have been sorry to find him. I d

t-wh

get no good of him when you find him. And I've no idea where he's to be found now,"

is buggy and took up the lines a

maybe bring him home with me. Funny that man gave his such a bad character. Wis

he was busy man, "if he's got my card, and he is ou