“But, Rodney, you will be ashamed of me.  I am awfully shabby.”

“You won’t be long.  You shall be as well dressed as I am.”

A week later the two boys reached the school.  It would have been hard for any of Mike’s old friends to recognize him in the handsomely dressed boy who accompanied Rodney.

“Really, Mike, you are quite good looking, now that you are well dressed,” said Rodney.

“Oh, go away with you, Rodney?  It’s fooling me you are!”

“Not a bit of it.  Now I want you to improve your time and learn as fast as you can.”

“I will, Rodney.”

A year later Rodney left school, but he kept Mike there two years longer.  There had been a great change in the telegraph boy, who was quick to learn.  He expects, when he leaves school, to join Rodney in Montana.

I will not attempt to estimate Rodney’s present wealth, but he is already prominent in financial circles in his adopted State.  Philip Carton is prospering, and is respected by his new friends, who know nothing of his earlier life.

As I write, Rodney has received a letter from his old guardian, Benjamin Fielding.  The letter came from Montreal.

“My dear Rodney,” he wrote.  “I have worked hard to redeem the past, and restore to you your fortune.  I have just succeeded, and send you the amount with interest.  It leaves me little or nothing, but my mind is relieved.  I hope you have not had to suffer severely from my criminal carelessness, and that you will live long to enjoy what rightfully belongs to you.”

In reply Rodney wrote:  “Please draw on me for fifty thousand dollars.  I do not need it, and you do.  Five years from now, if you can spare the money you may send it to me.  Till then use it without interest.  I am worth much more than the sum my father intrusted to you for me.”

This offer was gratefully accepted, and Mr. Fielding is now in New York, where he is likely to experience a return of his former prosperity.

As for Rodney, his trials are over.  They made a man of him, and proved a blessing in disguise.