"'You are too old to work. You ought to retire,' they said. "I reported my disappointment to my niece and her husband. "'Uncle John,' said my nephew, 'I feel for you, and I will try to do something for you. I think I can make a place for you in my store. I can't afford to pay you high wages. If you will work for ten dollars a week I will employ you.' "I was very glad to accept this proposal, though I had in my time been paid a hundred dollars a month. "I entered the store, and had reason to think that I was doing satisfactory work. But at the end of three weeks Eben Jackson called me aside and said: 'Uncle John, I have been figuring up my expenses, and I don't see how I can afford to employ you.' "'You wish me to go, then?' "'I shall have to dispense with your services unless I can get additional capital to enlarge my business.' "Presently he made me a proposal. "'If you will lend me three thousand dollars,' he said, 'and allow me to use it in my business, I will pay you six per cent. interest, and advance your wages to twelve dollars a week.' "I thought over this proposal and determined to accept it. Eben Jackson was very plausible and smooth-spoken, and I saw no reason to doubt him. I transferred my small capital to him. He increased his stock, but only by five hundred dollars' worth, as I afterwards ascertained, and I continued to work for him. For a month he paid me twelve dollars per week, then he reduced me to ten, on the plea that business was poor, afterwards to eight, and finally he allowed me only my board. I became indignant and demanded my money back, but he absolutely refused to repay it. I consulted a lawyer, but found upon inquiry that he had made over all his property to his wife. I saw that nothing was to be expected, and a month since I left Rochester and came to Chicago, in the hope of finding employment here." CHAPTER XXIX. THE ST. JAMES HOTEL, IN DENVER. "What has been your success here, Mr. Plympton?" inquired Rupert. "No better than in Rochester. Why is it that no one is willing to employ an old man? I am in good bodily health, and I can do as good work as I ever could, but no one will have me." "Chicago seems to be a city of young men--more so than New York." "Have you noticed that? Some of the successful business men are men young enough to be my sons." "I understand you to say that you wished to go to Denver. Have you any reason to think you will succeed any better there?" "No, but I have a nephew somewhere in Colorado, and perhaps in Denver. If I can fall in with him, I am sure he will help me. I haven't seen Giles for twenty years, but--" "Giles!" repeated Rupert, in surprise. "What is his full name?" "Giles Packard. He is my sister's son." "Well, that is astonishing," ejaculated Rupert. "What is astonishing?" "Your nephew is my particular friend, and I am going out to Colorado at his special invitation." "Is it possible?" asked the old man, eagerly. "Then you know where he lives?"