“Well, I don’t know but I’ll do it.  I’ll get some ink, and you can write me the due bill.”

“Why, Aunt Deborah, you haven’t got the money here, have you?”

“Yes, I’ve got it in the house.  A man paid up a mortgage last week, and I haven’t yet invested the money.  I meant to put it in the savings bank.”

“You wouldn’t get but six per cent there.  Now the bonus I offer you will be equal to about twenty per cent.”

“And you really feel able to pay so much?”

“Yes, aunt; as I told you, it will be worth more than that to me.”

“Well, Ferdinand, we’ll settle the matter now.  I’ll go and get the money, and you shall give me the note and the ring.”

“Triumph!” said the young man to himself, when the old lady had left the room.  “You’re badly sold, Aunt Deborah, but it’s a good job for me.  I didn’t think I would have so little trouble.”

Within fifteen minutes the money was handed over, and Aunt Deborah took charge of the note and the valuable diamond ring.

“Be careful of the ring, Aunt Deborah,” said Ferdinand.  “Remember, I expect to redeem it again.”

“I’ll take good care of it, nephew, never fear!”

“If it were a little smaller, you could wear it, yourself.”

“How would Deborah Kensington look with a diamond ring?  The neighbors would think I was crazy.  No:  I’ll keep it in a safe place, but I won’t wear it.”

“Now, Aunt Deborah, I must speak about other arrangements.  Don’t you think it would be well to start for San Francisco as soon as possible?  You know I enter upon my duties as soon as I get there.”

“Yes, Ferdinand, I think you ought to.”

“I wish I could spare the time to spend a week with you, aunt; but business is business, and my motto is, business before pleasure.”

“And very proper, too, Ferdinand,” said the old lady, approvingly.

“So I think I had better leave Centreville tomorrow.”

“May be you had.  You must write and let me know when you get there, and how you like your place.”

“So I will, and I shall be glad to know that you take an interest in me.  Now, aunt, as I have some errands to do, I will walk to the village and come back about the middle of the afternoon.”

“Won’t you be back to dinner?”

“No, I think not, aunt.”

“Very well, Ferdinand.  Come as soon as you can.”

Half an hour later, Ferdinand entered the office of the “Centreville Gazette.”

“How do you do, Mr. Kensington?” said Clapp, eagerly.  “Anything new?”

“I should like to speak with you a moment in private, Mr. Clapp.”

“All right!”

Clapp put on his coat, and went outside, shutting the door behind him.

“Well,” said Ferdinand, “I’ve succeeded.”

“Have you got the money?”

“Yes, but not quite as much as I anticipated.”