"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said. "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

 

"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

 

"Very well. Go to the Somerset Hotel, and put up as a guest. I shall follow you soon."

 

Leaving Rupert to pursue his journey, we will detail the experiences of Giles and his uncle at Rochester.

 

"We will put up at a cheap hotel, Uncle[Pg 337] John," he said. "I don't want Eben to suspect that I am well off."

 

"He wouldn't judge so from your dress, Giles," remarked the old man, with a humorous glance at his nephew's well-worn suit.

 

"That is true, Uncle John. I don't look very much like a dude, I admit. However, I will go to a first-class tailor in New York and get myself rigged out. While I am about it I will get a new suit for you."

 

"I need it badly enough, Giles, but having given all my money to Eben Jackson, I did not feel able to buy new clothes."

 

"You won't have occasion to complain of being without money long."

 

"Thank you, Giles. It has been a great relief to me, your purchasing the note, but I don't want you to lose money."

 

"I don't intend to. Eben Jackson may swindle you. He will find it harder to get the advantage of me."

 

Eben Jackson was standing² at the desk in his store when Giles and John Plympton entered. Eben took no particular notice of the middle-aged³ and rather rough-looking [Pg 338]stranger, whom he did not recognize, but frowned perceptibly when he saw John Plympton.

 

"You here, Uncle John?" he said, roughly.

 

"Yes," answered the old man, meekly⁴.

 

"Where have you been?"

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