"Have you any more?"
"I've got enough more, so that I don't expect to need the situation Sam thought of offering me."
When Major Sturgis left the cottage his grand air had passed off, and he looked disappointed and mortified. Sam's spirits, too, were perceptibly dashed when he learned that the boy he disliked had been successful in California.
"That settles the major," said Ben. "This afternoon I will see what I can do in the case of Richmond."
"You can't do anything, Ben," said his aunt. "Leave him to the reproaches of his own conscience."
"He hasn't got any conscience, Aunt Clarissa," said Ben.—"Jake, will you ride over with me to the next town this afternoon?"
"I shall be glad to, Ben."
Ben went at once to the office of an able lawyer, engaged his services, and put the matter into his hands. The result was, that John Richmond received a note by messenger summoning him to the lawyer's office. He at first tried to bluster, then to temporize, but the lawyer was stern and threatened to exhaust the resources of the law in behalf of his clients. Like most bullies, Richmond was a coward, and ended by giving a note for the full amount, with interest, at thirty days.
"You had better leave this note with me," said the lawyer to Ben; "I will collect it when due."
And he did. With a crestfallen air John Richmond had to confess himself defeated in his mean attempt at swindling, for he had obtained Uncle Job's indorsement with the deliberate intention of leaving him to pay the note, supposing that the old man would be too timid to do anything about it.