"He probably thought so. He has no idea I have been so well paid. I chose to keep it from him." "You said you wanted to ask my advice about something." "Yes, sir." "Why not come round to the Delavan and take a room? I am staying there, and I will tell the clerk to pick you out a room next to mine." "I will do so. I intended to stay at some hotel to night. This is the last night of the circus. To-morrow we close up, and separate. I shall draw my money and bid good-by to my circus friends." "I am glad of that. We will keep together. I have neither chick nor child, Kit, and if you'll accept me as your guardian I'll do the best I can for you. But perhaps you prefer to go back to your uncle." Kit shook his head. "I should never do that," he said, "especially after what I have learned during my trip." "Let it keep till to-morrow, for we are both tired. Now get ready and we'll go to the Delavan." Kit was assigned a nice room next to Mr. Miller, where he passed a comfortable night. The next day he revealed to his new friend the discoveries he had made in his uncle's old home in Pennsylvania--his uncle's poverty up to the time of his brother's death, and the evident falseness of his claim to have lent him large sums of money, in payment of which he had coolly appropriated his entire estate. His late friend listened to this story in amazement. "I knew Stephen Watson to be unprincipled," he said, "but I didn't think him as bad as that. He has swindled you shamefully." "Just my idea, Mr. Miller." "While he has carefully feathered his own nest. This wrong must be righted." "It was my intention to find some good lawyer, and ask his advice." "We'll do it, Kit. But, first of all, I'll go with you to this town in Pennsylvania, and obtain the necessary testimony sworn to before a justice. Then we'll find a good lawyer, and move on the enemy's works." "I will be guided by your advice entirely, Mr. Miller." "It will be a satisfaction to me to get even with your uncle. To swindle his own nephew in this barefaced manner! We'll bring him up with a short turn, Kit!" The next day Kit and his new friend left Albany. CHAPTER XXXVII. KIT COMES HOME. One morning James Schuyler Kit's old acquaintance at Smyrna, received a letter from Kit, in which he said: "Our circus season is ended, but I am detained a few days by important business. I will tell you about it when we meet. If you see my uncle tell him that I expect to reach Smyrna somewhere about the twenty-fifth of October." "I wonder what Kit's important business can be," thought James. "I hope it is something of advantage to him." James happened to meet Stephen Watson an hour later. "Mr. Watson," he said, "I had a letter from Kit this morning." "Indeed!" "He says that his circus season is over." "And he is out of employment," said Watson, his lip curling. "I suppose so; he expects to reach Smyrna somewhere about the twenty-fifth of the month." Stephen Watson smiled, but said nothing.