“Very natural, colonel,” said Melville.  “I believe most people want to be richer.  Perhaps if I had vigorous health I might have the same wish.  At present my chief wish is to recover my health.”

“You’ll do it, sir, you’ll do it—­and in short order, too!  Then you can turn your attention to money-making.”

“Perhaps so,” said Melville, with a smile.

“If not for yourself, for your young friend here,” added the colonel.  “I take it he is not rich.”

“I have my fortune still to make, Col.  Warner,” said Herbert, smiling.

“The easiest thing in the world out here, my boy!” said the colonel, paternally.  “So you start to-morrow?” he inquired, turning to Melville.

“I think of it.”

“Egad!  I’ve a great mind to accompany you,” said the colonel.  “Why shouldn’t I?  I’ve got through all my business in Chicago, and I like the pure air of the prairies best.”

“We shall be glad of your company, colonel,” said Melville, politely.

“Thank you, sir; that decides me.  I’ll see you again and fix the hour of going, or rather I’ll conform myself to your arrangements.”

“Very well, colonel.”

“What do you think of my new acquaintance, Col.  Warner, Herbert?” asked Melville when they were alone.

“He seems to have a very good opinion of himself,” answered Herbert.

“Yes, he is very well pleased with himself.  He isn’t a man exactly to my taste, but he seems a representative Western man.  He does not look much like a consumptive?”

“No, sir.”

“I feel an interest in him on that account,” said Melville, seriously.  “If at any time I could become as strong and stalwart I would willingly surrender one-half, nay nine-tenths of my fortune.  Ill health is a great drag upon a man; it largely curtails his enjoyments, and deprives him of all ambition.”

“I don’t see why his remedy wouldn’t work well in your case, Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, earnestly.

“Perhaps it may.  At any rate, I feel inclined to try it.  I am glad the colonel is going to travel with us, as I shall be able to question him about the details of his cure.  He seems a bluff, genial fellow, and though I don’t expect to enjoy his companionship much, I hope to derive some benefit from it.”

“By the way, Mr. Melville, I met an old acquaintance while I was out walking,” said Herbert.

“Indeed!”

“Eben Graham.”

“How did he look—­prosperous?”

“Hardly—­he was wheeling a barrow of vegetables.”

“Did you speak with him?”

“Yes; he wanted to borrow money.”

“I am not surprised at that; I thought it time for him to be out of money.  Did you lend him?”

“No; I found he wanted money to buy a lottery ticket.  I told him I wouldn’t lend money to my best friend for that purpose.”

“Very sensible in you, Herbert.”

“If he had been in distress, I might have let him have a few dollars, notwithstanding he treated me so meanly at Wayneboro, but he seems to be earning a living.”