Uncle Godfrey’s brow wore a perceptible frown.

“Tell me who has put this idea into your head?” he said.  “I am sure it isn’t your father.”

“No one put it into my head, Uncle Godfrey.  It’s my own idea.”

“Humph! old heads don’t grow on young shoulders, evidently.  You are a foolish boy, Grant.  With a liberal education you can do something for your family.”

“But it is so long to wait,” objected Grant.

“It will be a great disappointment to me to have you give up going to college, but of course I can’t force you to go,” said his uncle, coldly.  “It will save me three hundred dollars a year for four years-I may say for seven, however.  You will be throwing away a grand opportunity.”

“Don’t think I undervalue the advantage of a college training, uncle,” said Grant, eagerly.  “It isn’t that.  It’s because I thought I might help father.  In fact, I wanted to make a proposal to you.”

“What is it?”

“You say it will cost three hundred dollars a year to keep me in college?”

“Well?”

“Would you be willing to give father two hundred a year for the next four years, and let me take care of myself in some business place?”

“So this is your proposal, is it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“All I have got to say is, that you have got uncommon assurance.  You propose to defeat my cherished plan, and want me to pay two hundred dollars a year in acknowledgment of your consideration.”

“I am sorry you look upon it in that light, Uncle Godfrey.”

“I distinctly decline your proposal.  If you refuse to go to college, I wash my hands of you and your family.  Do you understand that?”

“Yes, Uncle Godfrey,” answered Grant, crestfallen.

“Go home and think over the matter.  My offer still holds good.  You can present yourself at college in September, and, if you are admitted, notify me.”

The lawyer turned back to his writing, and Grant understood that the interview was over.

In sadness he started on his return walk from Somerset.  He had accomplished nothing except to make his uncle angry.  He could not make up his mind what to do.

He had walked about four miles when his attention was sharply drawn by a cry of terror.  Looking up quickly, he saw a girl of fourteen flying along the road pursued by a drunken man armed with a big club.  They were not more than thirty feet apart, and the situation was critical.

Grant was no coward, and he instantly resolved to rescue the girl if it were a possible thing.

CHAPTER IV

A TIMELY RESCUE

“I will save her if I can,” said Grant to himself.