“Not that the old curmudgeon will be glad to see me; more than likely he will shut the door in my face; but I’ll swallow down that insult, or any more that he may offer, to see if it is possible to patch up a truce with him and get into his good graces again. I am sure that he has cut me off without a shilling, as he notified me that he would do. Still, while there’s life there’s hope, as the old saying goes.” Upon reaching New York Raymond Challoner suited the action to the resolve, and made his way to his uncle’s home at once. He took a cab until he reached within half a block of his destination, then dismissed the vehicle, knowing that it would never do for his miserly old uncle to behold him indulging in the luxury of riding. “Hello!” muttered Challoner, rubbing his eyes in amazement as he stood before the street number he was looking for, “am I mad, or do my eyes deceive me? The place painted, and lace curtains at the windows, and an air of luxury around his miserly abode. Surely something out of the ordinary run of events has transpired. The old man has slipped off this mortal coil, or rented the house to some one who knows better than he did how to keep up a house in a first-class neighborhood--that will be a pride, instead of a disgrace and a nuisance to the people on both sides of him. “He vowed he would live here till the day he died. Now, who knows if he changed his mind in this instance, he might do it in the affair of the will--make a new one leaving his vast possessions to me? Well, well, we shall see. If others live here now, they can probably give me some information as to where the old bundle of bones, or, rather, my dear uncle, has gone to.” He ran lightly up the steps and rang the bell, noting that even the old bell had been removed and a brand new silver one of latest design had been put in its place. In answer to his summons a liveried servant opened the door. The recognition was mutual. “Master Raymond!” exclaimed the man, while that young man uttered in the same breath: “Dan! togged out in fine feathers, or do my eyes deceive me?” Before he could answer, Raymond Challoner went on, wonderingly: “What is the meaning of all this change, Dan? Has my uncle taken to living like a prince in his old age? I should as soon have expected to see the world suddenly come to a standstill.” “There’s a mighty change in the old place, sir, I can tell you; and the reason for it is plain enough. Master Brown has taken to himself a young wife, sir,” answered the man, enjoying the amazement on Raymond Challoner’s face. “My uncle married!” he gasped. “I can hardly credit the evidences of my own ears, Dan. I am dumfounded--bewildered!”