“Ain’t they some way to fix it, Mr. Sharpman?” he said.  “Can’t you do sumpthin’ for me?”

“Oh!  I couldn’t be your guardian, my boy, the law wouldn’t allow that; and Mr. Craft, here, hasn’t money enough.  I guess we’ll have to give up the idea of restoring you to your mother, and let you go back to work in the breaker again.”

“That’d be too bad,” said the boy.  “Don’t do that; I couldn’t stan’ that—­now.  Can’t you see my mother again, Mr. Sharpman, an’ get her to take me—­some way?”

“It can’t be done, Ralph.  There’s only one way to fix it, and that is to get a guardian for you.  If we can’t do that, we may as well give it all up.”

The anxiety and disappointment expressed in the lad’s face was pitiful to look upon.

Then Craft spoke up.

“Ralph has been very unkind and ungrateful to me,” he said, “but I have always been his best friend.  I saved his life; and I’ve spent time and money and lost my health on his account.  But I’m willing to do him a favor yet, if he thinks he can appreciate it.  I’ll act as his guardian and take care of his property for him, if he’ll be a good boy and do as we tell him.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” said Ralph, eagerly, “‘ceptin’ to go back an’ live with you; everything—­but Mr. Sharpman said you wasn’t rich enough.”

“No, I ain’t,” responded the old man; “and I don’t know how to get around that difficulty, unless Mr. Sharpman will help me and be my bondsman.”

Ralph turned his face pleadingly to Sharpman.

“Oh, now, Craft!” said the lawyer, smiling, and shaking his head, “don’t you think you are presuming a little too much on my friendship?  If you were the only one to be trusted, why, I might do it; but in this case I would have to depend on the boy as well, and there’s no knowing how he would misbehave.  According to your own story, he is a wilful, wrong-headed lad, who has already rewarded your kindness to him with base ingratitude.  Oh, no!  I could trust you, but not him.”

“Mr. Sharpman!” pleaded the boy, “Mr. Sharpman, I never meant to be mean or unkind to Gran’pa Simon.  I never knew’t he saved my life, never.  I thought he abused me, I did; I was sure of it; that’s the reason I run away from ’im.  But, you see, I’m older now; I’d be more reason’ble; I’ll do anything you tell me to, Mr. Sharpman,—­anything, if you’ll only fix it for Gran’pa Simon so’s’t he can help me get back to my mother.”

The lawyer sat for a few moments as if lost in thought.  Finally, he raised his head and said:—­

“I’ve a great mind to try you, Ralph.  Do you think I can really place full confidence in you?”

“Yes, sir; oh, yes, sir!”

“And will you follow my advice to the letter, and do just what I tell you to do in this matter?”

“Yes, sir; I will.”

“Well, then,” said Sharpman, turning to Craft, “I think I’ll trust the boy, and I’ll assist you in your bonds.  I know that we both have his interest at heart, and I believe that, together, we can restore his rights to him, and place him in the way of acceptance by his family.  Ralph,” turning again to the boy, “you ought to be very thankful to have found two such good friends as Mr. Craft and myself.”