"He don't know anything about horses," said Sam.
"He will soon learn. He is a good boy, and industrious. I am sure he will suit me better than you."
"I wish I hadn't brought back his old horse," muttered Sam, as he left the office and went back into the yard. He hoped to triumph over Tony by telling him that he had taken his place, but the opportunity was not allowed him.
"Well, Sam, are you going to take my place?" asked Tony.
"The old man had promised it to another boy," said Sam, sourly.
"He's been pretty quick about it, then," said James.
"A boy that don't know the first thing about horses," grumbled Sam.
"He's a good boy; I'm glad he's coming, though I'm sorry to lose Tony."
"Thank you, James," said Tony. "I'd like to stay, but I can't blame Mr. Porter for not believing my story. It was a strange one, but it's true for all that."
"Then you believe you're heir to a fortune, as he told you?"
"Yes; he had no reason to tell me a lie."
"The Quaker gentleman who was here told Tony that he was heir to a large fortune."
"Ho, ho!" laughed Sam, boisterously. "That's a likely story, that is."
"You heir to a fortune--a clodhopper like you! Oh! I shall split!" said Sam, giving way to another burst of merriment.
"I am no more a clodhopper than you are," said Tony, "and I advise you not to laugh too much, or I may make you laugh on the other side of your mouth."
"It'll take more than you to do it," said Sam, defiantly.
"I have done it already, Sam Payson, and I'm ready to try it again before I leave town."
"I wouldn't dirty my hands with you," said Sam, scornfully.
"I wonder whether I shall ever see you again, James?" he said, thoughtfully.
"I hope so, Tony. I'm sorry you're going; but you couldn't expect Mr. Porter to believe such a story as that."
"Then you don't believe it, James? I'll come back some day just to prove to you that it is true."
"Come back at any rate; I shall be glad to see you. When do you go?"
"To New York; but I'll help you till I go."
So Tony did his work as usual for the remainder of the day. He felt rather sober. Just as he had found a home his evil genius, in the character of Rudolph, appeared and deprived him of it.
Though Tony was out of a place he was considerably better off than he had generally been. He had five dollars in his pocket for the first time in his life. A few weeks ago he would have considered himself rich with this amount, and would have been in high spirits. But now he took a different view of life. He had known what it was to have a settled home, and to earn an honest living, and he had learned to like it. But fortune was against him, and he must go.