John Plympton mentioned the name of the hotel. Eben Jackson turned up his nose. This was distinctly a third-class house, charging one dollar and a quarter a day. "You'd better go to a cheap boarding-house. You needn't expect me to pay your hotel bill." "I have a right to expect you will give me enough of my own money to pay the bill." "I won't encourage you in any such ridiculous extravagance, Uncle John." "Perhaps you think it is extravagant in me to eat at all." "I think it is extravagant to pay a dollar and a quarter a day for board. Who is that man with you?" On hearing this, Giles Packard came forward. "You ought to know me, Eben," he said. Eben Jackson took stock of the cattleman's shabby clothes, and answered, coldly, "You have the advantage of me, sir." "Then you don't remember your cousin, Giles Packard?" "Are you Giles Packard? I didn't know but you were dead." "No, thank you, not just yet." "Where have you been living?" "In Colorado." "Have you met with any success? What business have you followed?" "I have been in the cattle business." "Oh, a cowboy?" sneered Eben. "If you choose to call me so." "Why didn't you stay in Colorado? Why have you come East?" "I thought I should enjoy a vacation." "But traveling costs money." "So it does. Uncle John tells me you have three thousand dollars of his." Eben Jackson frowned. "Yes," he said, "I am taking care of his money for him." "As he can't find employment, he will need to have it returned." "That can't be done. He has my note for it." "Yes. I have seen the note. I observe that it is made out 'On demand.'" "Well?" "That means that he can call for it at any time." "I shall pay it when I get ready," said Eben, haughtily. "It may be wise for you to get ready very soon." "Oh, you threaten, do you? That is all the good it will do you." To Eben Jackson's surprise Giles Packard took the matter very coolly. He even smiled. "I suspect you will change your mind," he said. "I understand your drift. You want to get hold of Uncle John's money yourself." "Perhaps so. Uncle John, are you willing that I should take charge of your money?" "Yes, Giles." "Ah, a very nice conspiracy. Uncle John, you are a fool." "Why?" asked the old man, mildly. "This man has made a failure of his life, and is as poor as poverty, judging from his appearance. He has got up a nice scheme for depriving you of your money. If he got hold of it you would never see a cent of it. He is evidently an adventurer." "Then you won't give me my money?" "No. I shall keep it in your own interest. Why, if you gave it to him you would be a pauper in less than a year." Giles Packard did not seem in the least irritated by his cousin's uncomplimentary remarks. Turning to John Plympton, he said: "I think we may as well go, Uncle John." "I am glad you realize that," observed Jackson. "Before you go, let me say that your scheme has utterly failed."