Finding himself foiled in his attempt to regain his old place, Carden felt still more incensed against the boy, whom he considered to be the cause of his dismissal. He felt that it would be a satisfaction to injure him in some way, and so revenge himself. For this purpose he determined to remain in the town until the circus left. He secured board, therefore, in the family of a farmer not far away, and spent his days about the village and his evenings in some low drinking place. One day as he was sauntering along the street, with a discontented scowl upon his face, he came face to face with a well-dressed man, who appeared to be a stranger in the place. He would have passed him by without any other notice than a passing glance, had not the stranger accosted him. "A pleasant day, my friend," he said, affably. "Who said I was your friend?" returned Carden, with a growl. "I assumed it, since you have no reason to be my enemy," said the other, not in the least put out by the roughness with which his greeting was received. "I don't know you, and I don't want to," continued Carden. "Really, you are very frank," laughed the new acquaintance. "A trifle rough, perhaps, but I like sincerity. You are no hypocrite, my friend." "I should like to hear anybody call me so," said Carden, defiantly. "I won't be the one at any rate. However, its dry talking in the street. Suppose we go in here (they were just passing a drinking saloon) and drink to our better acquaintance." He could have said nothing better calculated to soften Carden's asperity. "I believe you're a trump, after all," said the canvas man, in a changed tone. "I hope you'll find me so. Well, come in." Carden readily followed him into the saloon, and they sat down to a table with a bottle and two glasses before them. "Now, what's your game?" asked Carden, abruptly. "My game?" "Yes. I s'pose you wouldn't have stood treat if you hadn't wanted something of me." The stranger laughed. "You are sharp," said he. "However, I don't mind confessing that I am a stranger in the place and wanted company and possibly a little information. Do you know anything about the circus—Coleman's circus—which I see is showing here?" "I ought to. I belong to it." "Oh, you are connected with it." "No. I'm not now. I was." "So, you left them." "Left them," repeated Carden with an oath. "I was kicked out." "Indeed, my friend, I sympathize with you. May I ask in what capacity you were employed?" "I was a canvas man." "Really, I don't want to meddle with what is none of my business, but on what pretext were you discharged?" Carden hardly liked to admit that he was suspected of theft, but his wrongs were recent and he took a bitter satisfaction in dwelling upon them. So he overcame his reluctance by degrees. "It was all on account of that young rascal Robert Rudd," he said. "Robert Rudd!" repeated the stranger, his face indicating strong interest. "Who is he?"