week then, but what's that?"
"You may be a wealthy man!" said his mother impressively.  "Cousin
Hamilton is not so healthy as she looks.  I have a suspicion that her
heart is affected.  She might die suddenly."

"Do you really think so?" said Conrad eagerly.

"I think so.  What you must try to do is to stand well with her, and
get her to make her will in your favor.  I will attend to that, if you
will do as I tell you."

"She may make this boy her heir," said Conrad discontentedly.  "Then
where would I be?"

"She won't do it, if I can help it," said Mrs. Hill with an emphatic
nod.  "I will manage to make trouble between them.  You will always be
my first interest, my dear boy."

She made a motion to kiss her dear boy, but Conrad, who was by no
means of an affectionate disposition, moved his head suddenly, with an
impatient exclamation, "Oh, bother!"

A pained look came over the mother's face, for she loved her son,
unattractive and disagreeable as he was, with a love the greater
because she loved no one else in the world.  Mother and son were
selfish alike, but the son the more so, for he had not a spark of love
for any human being.

"There's the bell!" said Mrs. Hill suddenly.  "I do believe Cousin
Hamilton has come.  Now we shall find out whether this boy's story is
true."

"Let's go downstairs, ma!  I hope it's all a mistake and she'll send
me for a policeman."

"I am afraid the boy's story is correct.  But his day will be short."

When they reached the hall, Mrs. Hamilton had already been admitted to
the house.

"There's a boy in the drawing room, Mrs. Hamilton," said Mrs. Hill,
"who says he is to stay here--that you sent for him."

"Has he come already?" returned Mrs. Hamilton.  "I am glad of it."

"Then you did send for him?"

"Of course.  Didn't I mention it to you?  I hardly expected he would
come so soon."

She opened the door of the drawing room, and approached Ben, with
extended hand and a pleasant smile.

"Welcome to New York, Ben," she said.  "I hope I haven't kept you
waiting long?"

"Not very long," answered Ben, shaking her hand.

"This is my cousin Mrs. Hill, who relieves me of part of my
housekeeping care," continued Mrs. Hamilton, "and this is her son,
Conrad.  Conrad, this is a companion for you, Benjamin Barclay, who
will be a new member of our small family."

"I hope you are well, Conrad," said Ben, with a smile, to the boy who
but a short time before was going for a policeman to put him under
arrest.

"I'm all right," said Conrad ungraciously.

"Really, Cousin Hamilton, this is a surprise" said Mrs. Hill.  "You
are quite kind to provide Conrad with a companion, but I don't think
he felt the need of any, except his mother--and you."

Mrs. Hamilton laughed.  She saw that neither Mrs. Hill nor Conrad was
glad to see Ben, and this was only what she expected, and, indeed,
this was the chief reason why she had omitted to mention Ben's
expected arrival.

"You give me too much credit," she said, "if you think I invited this
young gentleman here solely as a companion to Conrad.  I shall have
some writing and accounts for him to attend to."

"I am sure Conrad would have been glad to serve you in that way,
Cousin Hamilton," said Mrs. Hill.  "I am sorry you did not give him
the first chance."

"Conrad wouldn't have suited me," said Mrs. Hamilton bluntly.

"Perhaps I may not be competent," suggested Ben modestly.

"We can tell better after trying you," said his patroness.  "As for
Conrad, I have obtained a position for him.  He is to enter the
offices of Jones & Woodhull, on Pearl Street, to-morrow.  You will
take an early breakfast, Conrad, for it will be necessary for you to
be at the office at eight o'clock."

"How much am I to get?" asked Conrad.

"Four dollars a week.  I shall let you have all this in lieu of the
weekly allowance I pay you, but will provide you with clothing, as
heretofore, so that this will keep you liberally supplied with pocket
money."

"Conrad's brow cleared.  He was lazy, and did not enjoy going to work,
but the increase of his allowance would be satisfactory.

"And now, Ben, Mrs. Hill will kindly show you your room.  It is the
large hall bedroom on the third floor.  When you have unpacked your
valise, and got to feel at home, come downstairs, and we will have a
little conversation upon business.  You will find me in the sitting
room, on the next floor."

"Thank you," said Ben politely, and he followed the pallid cousin
upstairs.  He was shown into a handsomely furnished room, bright and
cheerful.

"This is a very pleasant room," he said.

"You won't occupy it long!" said Mrs. Hill to herself.  "No one will
step into my Conrad's place, if I can help it."




CHAPTER XX
ENTERING UPON HIS DUTIES


When Ben had taken out his clothing from his valise and put it away in
the drawers of the handsome bureau which formed a part of the
furniture of his room, he went downstairs, and found his patroness in
a cozy sitting room, on the second floor.  It was furnished, Ben could
not help thinking, more as if it were designed for a gentleman than a
lady.  In one corner was a library table, with writing materials,
books, and papers upon it, and an array of drawers on either side of
the central part.

"Come right in, Ben," said Mrs. Hamilton, who was seated at the table.
"We will talk of business."

This Ben was quite willing to do.  He was anxious to know what were to
be his duties, that he might judge whether he was competent to
discharge them.

"Let me tell you, to begin with," said his patroness, "that I am
possessed of considerable wealth, as, indeed, you may have judged by
way of living.  I have no children, unfortunately, and being
unwilling, selfishly, to devote my entire means to my own use
exclusively, I try to help others in a way that I think most suitable.
Mrs. Hill, who acts as my housekeeper, is a cousin, who made a poor
marriage, and was left penniless.  I have given a home to her and her
son."

"I don't think Mrs. Hill likes my being here," said Ben.

"You are, no doubt, right.  She is foolish enough to be jealous
because I do not bestow all my favors upon her."

"I think she will look upon me as a rival of her son."

"I expected she would.  Perhaps she will learn, after a while, that I
can be a friend to you and him both, though, I am free to admit, I
have never been able to take any fancy to Conrad, nor, indeed, was his
mother a favorite with me.  But for her needy circumstances, she is,
perhaps, the last of my relatives that I would invite to become a
member of my household.  However, to come to business: My money is
invested in various ways.  Besides the ordinary forms of investment,
stocks, bonds, and mortgages, I have set up two or three young men,
whom I thought worthy, in business, and require them to send in
monthly statements of their business to me.  You see, therefore, that
I have more or less to do with accounts.  I never had much taste for
figures, and it struck me that I might relieve myself of considerable
drudgery if I could obtain your assistance, under my supervision, of
course.  I hope you have a taste for figures?"

"Arithmetic and algebra are my favorite studies," said Ben promptly.

"I am glad of it.  Of course, I did not know that, but had you not
been well versed in accounts, I meant to send you to a commercial
school to qualify you for the duties I wished to impose upon you."

"I don't think it will be necessary," answered Ben.  "I have taken
lessons in bookkeeping at home, and, though it seems like boasting, I
was better in mathematics than any of my schoolfellows."

"I am so glad to hear that.  Can you write well?"

"Shall I write something for you?"

"Do so."

Mrs. Hamilton vacated her place, and Ben, sitting at the desk, wrote
two or three copies from remembrance.

"Very well, indeed!" said his patroness approvingly.  "I see that in
engaging you I have made no mistake."

Ben's cheek flushed with pleasure, and he was eager to enter upon his
new duties.  But he could not help wondering why he had been selected
when Conrad was already in the house, and unemployed.  He ventured to
say:

"Would you mind telling me why you did not employ Conrad, instead of
sending for me?"

"There are two good and sufficient reasons: Conrad is not competent
for such an office; and secondly, I should not like to have the boy
about me as much as he would need to be.  I have obtained for him a
position out of the house.  One question remains to be considered: How
much wages do you expect?"

"I would prefer to leave that to you, Mrs. Hamilton.  I cannot expect
high pay."

"Will ten dollars a week be adequate?"

"I can't earn as much money as that," said Ben, in surprise.

"Perhaps not, and yet I am not sure.  If you suit me, it will be worth
my while to pay you as much."

"But Conrad will only receive four dollars a week.  Won't he be
angry?"

"Conrad is not called upon to support his mother, as I understand you
are."

"You are very kind to think of that, Mrs. Hamilton."

"I want to be kind to you, Ben," said his patroness with a pleasant
smile.

"When shall I commence my duties?"

"Now.  You will copy this statement into the ledger you see here.
Before doing so, will you look over and verify the figures?"

Ben was soon hard at work.  He was interested in his work, and the
time slipped fast.  After an hour and a half had passed, Mrs. Hamilton
said:

"It is about time for lunch, and I think there will be no more to do
to-day.  Are you familiar with New York?"

"No, I have spent very little time in the city."

"You will, no doubt, like to look about.  We have dinner at six sharp.
You will be on tine?"

"I will be sure to be here."

"That reminds me--have you a watch?"

Ben shook his head.

"I thought it might be so.  I have a good silver watch, which I have
no occasion for."

Mrs. Hamilton left the room, and quickly returned with a neat silver
hunting-case watch, with a guilt chain.

"This is yours, Ben," she said, "if you like it."

"Do you give it to me?" asked Ben joyously.  He had only expected that
it would be loaned to him.

"Yes, I give it to you, and I hope you will find it useful."

"How can I thank you, Mrs. Hamilton, for your kindness?"

"You are more grateful than Conrad.  I gave him one just like it, and
he was evidently dissatisfied became it was not gold.  When you are
older the gold watch may come."

"I am very well pleased with the silver watch, for I have long wanted
one, but did not see any way of obtaining it."

"You are wise in having moderate desires, Ben.  But there goes the
lunch bell.  You may want to wash your hands.  When you have done so
come down to the dining room, in the rear of the sitting room."

Mrs. Hill and Conrad were already seated at the table when Ben
descended.

"Take a seat opposite Conrad, Ben," said Mrs. Hamilton, who was
sitting at one end of the table.

The lunch was plain but substantial, and Ben, who had taken an early
breakfast, enjoyed it.

"I suppose we shall not have Conrad at lunch to-morrow?" said Mrs.
Hamilton.  "He will be at the store."

Conrad made a grimace.  He world have enjoyed his freedom better.

"I won't have much of my four dollars left if I have to pay for
lunch," he said in a surly tone.

"You shall have a reasonable allowance for that purpose."

"I suppose Mr. Barclay will lunch at home," said Mrs. Hill.

"Certainly, since his work will be here.  He is to be my home clerk,
and will keep my accounts."

"You needn't have gone out of the house for a clerk, Cousin Hamilton.
I am sure Conrad would have been glad of the work."

"It will be better for Conrad to learn business in a larger
establishment," said Mrs. Hamilton quietly.

This was a new way of looking at it, and helped to reconcile Mrs. Hill
to an arrangement which at first had disappointed her.

"Have you any engagements this afternoon, Conrad?" asked Mrs.
Hamilton.  "Ben will have nothing to do, and you could show him the
city."

"I've got an engagement with a fellow," said Conrad hastily.

"I can find my way about alone, thank you," said Ben.  "I won't
trouble Conrad."

"Very well.  This evening, however, Ben, I think you may enjoy going
to the theater.  Conrad can accompany you, unless he has another
engagement."

"I'll go with him," said Conrad, more graciously, for he was fond of
amusements.

"Then we will all meet at dinner, and you two young gentlemen can
leave in good time for the theater."




CHAPTER XXI
AT THE THEATER


After dinner, Ben and Conrad started to walk to the theater.  The
distance was about a mile, but in the city there is so much always to
be seen that one does not think of distance.

Conrad, who was very curious to ascertain Ben's status in the
household, lost no time in making inquiries.

"What does my aunt find for you to do?" he asked.

It may be remarked, by the way, that no such relationship ever existed
between them, but Mrs. Hill and her son thought politic to make the
relationship seem as close as possible, as it would, perhaps, increase
their apparent claim upon their rich relative.

Ben answered the question.

"You'll have a stupid time," said Conrad.  "All the same, she ought to
have given the place to me.  How much does she pay you?"

Ben hesitated, for he knew that his answer would make his companion
discontented.

"I am not sure whether I am at liberty to tell," he answered, with
hesitation.

"There isn't any secret about it, is there?" said Conrad sharply.

No, I suppose not.  I am to receive ten dollars a week."

"Ten dollars a week!" ejaculated Conrad, stopping short in the street.

"Yes."

"And I get but four!  That's a shame!"

"I shall really have no more than you, Conrad.  I have a mother to
provide for, and I shall send home six dollars a week regularly."

"That doesn't make any difference!" exclaimed Conrad, in excitement.
"It's awfully mean of aunt to treat you so much better than she does
me."

"You mustn't say that to me," said Ben.  "She has been kind to us
both, and I don't like to hear anything said against her."

"You're not going to tell her?" said Conrad suspiciously.

"Certainly not," said Ben indignantly.  "What do you take me for?"

"Some fellows would, to set Aunt Hamilton against me."

"I am not so mean as that."

"I am glad I can depend on you.  You see, the old lady is awfully
rich--doesn't know what to do with her money--and as she has no son,
or anybody nearer than me and mother, it's natural we should inherit
her money."

"I hope she will enjoy it herself for a good many years."

"Oh, she's getting old," said Conrad carelessly.  "She can't expect to
live forever.  It wouldn't be fair for young people if their parents
lived to a hundred.  Now, would it?"

"I should be very glad to have my mother live to a hundred, if she
could enjoy life," said Ben, disgusted with his companoin's sordid
selfishness.

"Your mother hasn't got any money, and that makes a difference."

Ben had a reply, but he reflected it would be of little use to argue
with one who took such widely different views as Conrad.  Moreover,
they were already within a block or two of the theater.

The best seats were priced at a dollar and a half, and Mrs. Hamilton
had given Conrad three dollars to purchase one for Ben and one for
himself.

"It seems an awful price to pay a dollar and a half for a seat," said
Conrad.  "Suppose we go into the gallery, where the seats are only
fifty cents?"

"I think Mrs. Hamilton meant us to take higher-priced seats."

"She won't care, or know, unless we choose to tell her."

"Then you don't propose to give her back the difference?"

"You don't take me for a fool, do you?  I'll tell you what I'll do.
If you don't mind a fifty-cent seat, I'll give you twenty-five cents
out of this money."

Ben could hardly believe Conrad was in earnest in this exhibition of
meanness.

"Then," said he, "you would clear seventy-five cents on my seat and a
dollar on your own?"

"You can see almost as well in the gallery," said Conrad.  "I'll give
you fifty cents, if you insist upon it."

"I insist upon having my share of the money spent for a seat," said
Ben, contemptuously.  "You can sit where you please, of course."

"You ain't very obliging," said Conrad sullenly.  "I need the money,
and that's what made me propose it.  As you've made so much fuss about
it, we'll take orchestra seats."

This he did, though unwillingly.

"I don't think I shall ever like that boy," thought Ben.  "He's a
little too mean."

They both enjoyed the play, Ben perhaps with the most zest, for he had
never before attended a city theater.  At eleven o'clock the curtain
fell, and they went out.

"Come, Ben," said Conrad, "you might treat a fellow to soda water."

"I will," answered Ben.  "Where shall we go?"

"Just opposite.  They've got fine soda water across the street."

The boys drank their soda water, and started to go home.

"Suppose we go in somewhere and have a game of billiards?" suggested
Conrad.

"I don't play," answered Ben.

"I'll teach you; come along," urged Conrad.

"It is getting late, and I would rather not."

"I suppose you go to roost with the chickens in the country?" sneered
Conrad.  You'll learn better in the city--if you stay."

"There is another reason," continued Ben.  "I suppose it costs money
to play billiards, and I have none to spare."

"Only twenty-five cents a game."

"It will be cheaper to go to bed."

"You won't do anything a fellow wants you to," grumbled Conrad.  "You
needn't be so mean, when you are getting ten dollars a week."

"I have plenty to do with my money, and I want to save up something
every week."

On the whole the boys did not take to each other.  They took very
different views of life and duty, and there seemed to be small
prospect of their becoming intimate friends.

Mrs. Hamilton had gone to bed when they returned, but Mrs. Hill was up
watching for her son.  She was a cold, disagreeable woman, but she was
devoted to her boy.

"I am glad you have come home so soon," she said.

"I wanted to play a game of billiards, but Ben wouldn't," grumbled
Conrad.

"If you had done so, I should have had to sit up later for you,
Conrad."

"There was no use in sitting up for me.  I ain't a baby," responded
Conrad ungratefully.

"You know I can't sleep when I know you are out, Conrad."

"Then you're very foolish.  Isn't she, Ben?"

"My mother would feel just so," answered Ben.

Mrs. Hill regarded him almost kindly.  He had done her a good turn in
bringing her son home in good season.

"She may be a disagreeable woman," thought Ben, "but she is good to
Conrad," and this made him regard the housekeeper with more favor.




CHAPTER XXII
A MYSTERIOUS LETTER


From time to time, Mrs. Hamilton sent Ben on errands to different
parts of the city, chiefly to those who had been started in business
with capital which she had supplied.  One afternoon, he was sent to a
tailor on Sixth Avenue with a note, the contents of which were unknown
to him.

"You may wait for an answer," said Mrs. Hamilton.

He readily found the tailor's shop, and called for Charles Roberts,
the proprietor.

The latter read the note, and said, in a business like tone:

"Come to the back part of the shop, and I will show you some goods."

Ben regarded him in surprise.

"Isn't there some mistake?" he said.  "I didn't know I was to look at
any goods."

"As we are to make a suit for you, I supposed you would have some
choice in the matter," returned the tailor, equally surprised.

"May I look at the letter?" asked Ben.

The tailor put it into his hands.

It ran thus:

"Mr. Roberts: You will make a suit for the bearer, from any goods he
may select, and charge to the account of
Helen Hamilton."

"Mrs. Hamilton did not tell me what was in the note," said Ben,
smiling.  "She is very kind."

Ben allowed himself to be guided by the tailor, and the result was a
handsome suit, which was sent home in due time, and immediately
attracted the attention of Conrad.  Ben had privately thanked his
patroness, but had felt under no obligation to tell Conrad.

"Seems to me you are getting extravagant!" said Conrad enviously.

"I don't know but I am," answered Ben good-naturedly.

"How much did you pay for it?"

"The price was thirty-five dollars."

"That's too much for a boy in your circumstances to pay."

"I think so myself, but I shall make it last a long time."

"I mean to make Aunt Hamilton buy me a new suit," grumbled Conrad.

"I have no objection, I am sure," said Ben.

"I didn't ask your permission," said Conrad rudely.

"I wonder what he would say if he knew that Mrs. Hamilton paid for my
suit?" Ben said to himself.  He wisely decided to keep the matter
secret, as he knew that Conrad would be provoked to hear of this new
proof of his relative's partiality for the boy whom he regarded as a
rival.

Conrad lost no time in preferring his request to Mrs. Hamilton for a
new suit.

"I bought you a suit two months since," said Mrs. Hamilton quietly.