“Why, yes; and I pay him a good round sum. He’s worth it, too, and runs everything. I never think of callin’ him my hired man, and I dunno’s he’d like me to show you how to open the safe.” “Surely you are the master here, aren’t you?” Mrs. Tracy asked, in a tone which at once piqued the man’s pride. “Of course I am. This is my house. What did you say you wanted?” “I want to know how to unlock the safe, so I can see my diamonds whenever I choose,” Mrs. Tracy replied. Uncle Zach thought a minute, standing first on one foot, then on the other, and rubbing his bald head and wishing Dot were there. But Dot was at a neighbor’s, gossiping about her city boarders and their elegant clothes, even their night dresses trimmed with real Valenciennes and nothing but silk stockings for every day. Dot could not help him. He must act alone, and it would not do to disoblige Mrs. Tracy, so he finally said, “Wall, seein’ it’s you, I don’t care if I do, though I mistrust Mark won’t like it.” “I don’t see what business it is of Mark’s. The safe is yours,” Mrs. Tracy replied. “That’s so,” Uncle Zach rejoined, and in a minute he was explaining to the lady the intricacies of the lock. “The word is ‘_John_,’” he said. “That’s our little boy who died and is down in the cemetry. For J you give four turns _so_; for O three turns _so_; for H two turns _so_; for N a final jerk, and here you be. No you ain’t neither! What ails the pesky thing?” he exclaimed, as with all his right and left turns and twists and yanks the safe resisted his efforts to open it. He tried again with no better result; then yielded his place to Mrs. Tracy, to whom he gave the most minute directions. She, too, failed and after two or three trials called to Celine, whom she heard on the piazza. “It’s strength we need, and Celine has it,” she said, explaining to the girl what was wanted and crouching down by her as she tried her skill on the obdurate lock. Uncle Zach had lost his wits entirely, and went down on his knees to assist with advice and orders. “Whew!” came through the window in a tone of surprise, and the next moment Jeff came in like a whirlwind, and made the fourth in the group by the safe. “What are you up to?” he asked, and at sight of him Mrs. Tracy, remembering what Alice had told her, rose to her feet. Celine, however, had no such prejudice, and she explained the matter very volubly. “Pshaw!” Jeff said contemptuously. “Is that all? I’ll bet I can pick the lock, give me time. Any way, I can open it. I’ve seen Mark do it a hundred times. Get out of the way.”