“Well,” said Samuel with a wan smile, “I had begun to.” He sat down by the roadside, and the other stared at him. “Do you live in Lockmanville?” he asked. “No, I just came here. I left my home in the country to go to New York, and I was robbed and lost all my money. And I haven't been able to find anything to do, and I'd just about given up and got ready to die.” “My God!” cried the other in dismay. “Oh, it's all right,” said Samuel. “I didn't mind.” The stranger gazed at him in perplexity. And Samuel returned the gaze, being curious to see who it was he had rescued. It was a youth not more than a year or two older than himself. The color had now come back into his face, and Samuel thought that he was the most beautiful human being he had ever seen. He had a frank, open face, and laughing eyes, and golden hair like a girl's. He wore outing costume, a silk shirt and light flannels--things which Samuel had learned to associate with the possession of wealth and ease. Also, his horse was a thoroughbred; and with a rubber-tired runabout and a silver-mounted harness, the expensiveness of the rig was evident. Samuel was glad of this, because it meant that he had rescued some one of consequence--some one of the successful and fit people. “Just as soon as you're able, come hold the horse,” said the stranger, “and then I'll fix this rein, and take you back and get you something to eat.” “Oh, no!” said Samuel. “Don't bother. That's all right.” “Hell, man!” cried the other. “Don't you suppose I'm going to do anything for you?” “Well, I hadn't thought--” began Samuel. “Cut it out!” exclaimed the other. “I'll set you up, and find you a job, and you can have a decent start.” Find him a job! Samuel's heart gave a great throb. For a moment he hardly knew how to take this--how it would fit into his new philosophy. But surely it was all right for him to take a job. Yes, he had earned it. Even if some one else had to be turned out--even so, he had proven his fitness. He had won in the struggle. He had a place among the successful, and he could help Sophie and her mother. He got up with eagerness, and held the horse. “Do you think you can manage him?” he asked. “Oh, yes,” said the other. “I'll chance it, anyhow.” And he leaped into the runabout and took the reins. “Now,” he said; and Samuel got in, and they sped away, back toward town. “Don't say anything about this accident, please,” said the young man suddenly. “I won't,” said Samuel. “My friends are always teasing me because I drive horses,” he explained. “Why not?” asked the other. “Well, everybody drives motors nowadays. But my father stood by horses, and I learned to be fond of them.” “We never had but one horse on the farm,” observed Samuel. “But I was fond of him.”