"Did you make an effort to recover the money?" "Yes, but it was of no use. He refused to give it back." "He must have given you a note?" "Yes, I have his note." "I will give you the money, and you will transfer the note to me. He will find me a different customer to deal with." "Keep the money yourself, Giles, and pay me interest on it. I shall not be afraid to trust you." "I will. If I treat you as Eben Jackson did, may I lose my property and become a pauper." "You are sure you can afford to do this, Giles? You have accumulated some property?" "Well," answered Giles, smiling, "I am not a millionaire, but I think perhaps I might realize seventy-five thousand dollars if I should take account of stock. I have been very successful in gathering property, but I have had a great many lonely hours." "Don't you need a bookkeeper?" asked the old man, eagerly. "Yes, I can find you something to do in your own line, Uncle John. My business isn't very complicated, but I find it necessary to keep some accounts. I will give you a home and you shall want for nothing. Has Eben Jackson got any children?" "Yes, he has two, a boy and a girl. They are fourteen and eleven." "What sort of children are they?" "The boy is like his father. He never treated me with respect, but looked upon me as a poor relation. The girl is of a better disposition." "And they would be among my heirs. I will look them up some day, and shape my will accordingly. Shall you be ready to go back with me on Monday, Rupert?" "I will be ready whenever you are, Mr. Packard." CHAPTER XXX. PACKARD'S HOME AT RED GULCH. Mr. Packard's cattle ranch was located in one of the extensive parks for which Colorado is noted. It included several square miles of territory. The cattleman had erected a dwelling, covering a good deal of ground, but only one story high. While it was comfortable, it was easy to see that it was the home of a bachelor. He had as housekeeper the widow of a herdsman, or perhaps I may say, cowboy, who had died a year before. She cooked and took care of the house. "Well, Rupert," he said, "this is my home. Mrs. Jones, get ready two rooms for my friends here. Uncle John, you are the oldest and shall have the choice." "Any room will do for me, Giles," said the old man modestly. "You shall have as good a one as the house affords." "You treat me differently from Eben Jackson. He gave me a small room in the attic." "And did his wife allow that?" "She had very little to say. Her husband's will is law in that household." "I am sorry for her. She deserved a better fate. As a girl she was good-hearted and had a cheerful disposition." "She is greatly changed. I am afraid her husband has taught her to be selfish. She seemed to have little more consideration for me than Eben." Rupert found that Mr. Packard was a cattle owner on a large scale. He had a great number of cowboys in his employ, over whom he exercised supervision.