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 they were sipping it, he replenished the fire.

"Where did you get that treasure?" inquired Mills after Reuben left the room.

"He was a porter in the college at Vicksburg, Mississippi, when I occupied the Chair of Ancient Languages there. He became enamored of Mrs. De Vere's maid, Margaret, and begged me to buy him, which I did."

"If not an impertinent question, may I ask what you paid for him?"

"Certainly. I gave one thousand dollars for him. He is not an ignorant man, as you can see."

"How did he get his education?"

"I taught him and he still studies every spare moment of his time."

"Your life has been an eventful one," said Mills interestedly.

"Mrs. De Vere's has," her husband returned soberly. "Jack told me that you were at the office to-day."

"Yes, I wanted to see you on some business connected with your mountain preserve."

For some inexplicable reason, Granny at