“Thirteen hundred dollars, includin’ interest.”

“Perhaps you have heard that I have a boy with me—­a boy from New York, named Rodney Ropes.  He has money, and perhaps I might get him to advance the sum you want.”

“Oh, Jefferson, if you only could!” exclaimed Aunt Nancy, clasping her thin hands.  “It would make us very happy.”

“I’ll see Rodney tonight and come over tomorrow morning and tell you what he says.  On account of the railroad I shall tell him that it is a good investment.  I suppose you will be willing to mortgage the farm to him for the same money that he pays to lift the present mortgage?”

“Yes, Jefferson, I’ll be willin’ and glad.  It’ll lift a great burden from my shoulders.  I’ve been worryin’ at the sorrow I’ve brought upon poor Nancy, for she had nothing to do with my foolish actions.  I was old enough to know better, Jefferson, and I’m ashamed of what I did.”

“Well, Uncle Cyrus, I’ll do what I can for you.  Now let us forget all about your troubles and talk over the village news.  You know I’ve been away for four years, and I haven’t had any stiddy correspondence, so a good deal must have happened that I don’t know anything about.  I hear Frank Dobson has prospered?”

“Yes, Frank’s pretty forehanded.  He’s got a good economical wife, and they’ve laid away five or six hundred dollars in the savings bank.”

“I am glad of it.  Frank is a good fellow.  If it hadn’t been for him I couldn’t have gone to Montana.  When he lent me the money everybody said he’d lose it, but I was bound to pay it if I had to live on one meal a day.  He was the only man in town who believed in me at that time.”

“You was a littless shif’less, Jefferson.  You can’t blame people.  I wasn’t quite sure myself how you’d get along.”

“No doubt you are right, Uncle Cyrus.  It did me good to leave town.  I didn’t drink, but I had no ambition.  When a man goes to a new country it’s apt to make a new man of him.  That was the case with me.”

“Are you goin’ back again, Jefferson?”

“Yes, uncle.  I’m going to stay round here long enough to fix up your affairs and get you out of your trouble.  Then I’ll go back to the West.  I have a little mining interest there and I can make more money there than I can here.”

“If you can get me out of my trouble, Jefferson, I’ll never forget it.  Nancy and I have been so worried that we couldn’t sleep nights, but now I’m beginnin’ to be a little more cheerful.”

Jefferson Pettigrew spent another hour at his uncle’s house, and then went back to the tavern, where he found Rodney waiting for him.  He explained briefly the part he wished his boy friend to take in his plan for relieving his uncle.

“I shall be receiving credit to which I am not entitled,” said Rodney.  “Still, if it will oblige you I am willing to play the part of the boy capitalist.”

The next morning after breakfast the two friends walked over to the house of Cyrus Hooper.  Aunt Nancy came to the door and gave them a cordial welcome.