want to lose money by it. I kno you give him his clo’es, but
that don’t cost you much. He ain’t had a suit for a year,
and he needs one bad.
“I’m sure you will see the thing the way I do, if you are a
reasonable man, as I have no reason to doubt you are; and so
I remain yours to command, NATHAN BADGER.
“To MR. CHARLES WALDO.”
Robert could hardly express his excitement and indignation when he was reading this letter. He felt sure that this poor boy, who was so cruelly treated, was the unfortunate son of his friend, the hermit, who ought to be enjoying the comforts of a luxurious home. As it was, he was the victim of a cruel and unscrupulous relative, influenced by the most mercenary motives.
“I will be his friend,” Robert resolved, “and if I can I will restore him to his father.”
He looked for the date of the letter and found it. It had been written in the town of Dexter, in Ohio. Where this town was Robert did not know, but he could find out.