"Your uncle told me." "Have you seen him lately?" asked Kit, quickly. "No; I saw him about three months ago at Smyrna." "What did he tell you about me?" "He said you were a wayward lad, and preferred traveling with a circus to following an honest business." "I am afraid you have got a wrong idea of me, then." "Bless you, I knew your uncle before you were born. He is not at all like your father. One was as open as the day, the other was cunning, selfish, and foxy." "I see you understand my Uncle Stephen as well as I do." "I ought to." "Were you surprised to hear that I was traveling with a circus?" "Well, I was; but your uncle told me one thing that surprised me more. He said that your father left nothing." "That surprised me, too; but I have got some light on the subject and I feel in need of a friend and adviser." "Then if you'll take Henry Miller for want of a better, I don't believe you'll regret it." "I shall be glad to accept your kind offer, Mr. Miller. Now that you mention your name, I remember it very well. My father often spoke of you." "Did he so?" said the stranger, evidently much gratified. "I am glad to hear it. Of all my school companions, your father was the one I liked best. And now, before we go any further, I want to tell you two things. First, I should have hunted you up sooner, but business called me to California, where I have considerable property. Next, having learned that you were left destitute, I decided to do something for the son of my old friend. So I took a hundred shares of stock in a new mine, which had just been put on the market when I reached 'Frisco, and I said to myself: 'That is for Kit Watson.' Well, it was a lucky investment. The shares cost me five dollars apiece, and just before I left California I sold them for fifty dollars apiece. What do you say to that?" "Is it possible mining shares rise in value so fast?" asked Kit in amazement. "Well, sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't. Often it's the other way, and I don't advise you or anybody else that knows nothing about it to speculate in mining shares. It is a risky thing, and you are more apt to lose than to win. However, this turned out O. K., and you are worth five thousand dollars to-day, my boy." "I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Miller," said Kit. "I can't seem to realize it." "You needn't thank me at all. I did it for your father's sake, but now that I know you I am glad to do it for your own. When we get to New York I advise you to salt it down in government bonds, or in some other good reliable stock." "I shall be glad to follow your advice, Mr. Miller." "Then I'll invest all but five hundred dollars, for you may want to use that. What sort of a season have you had?" "I've saved up four hundred dollars," said Kit proudly. "You don't say so! You must have got pretty good pay." "Twenty-five dollars a week." "Your uncle said you probably got two or three dollars a week."