He seemed convinced
that Luke had come by your tin box dishonestly."
"It seemed to me that he was prejudiced against Luke. How do you
account for it?"
"Perhaps his son, Randolph, has influenced him."
"So he has a son--how old?"
"Almost Luke's age. He thinks Luke beneath him, though why he should
do so, except that Luke is poor, I can't understand. Not long since
there was a skating match for a prize of a Waterbury watch, offered
by the grammar-school teacher, which Luke would have won had not
Randolph arranged with another boy to get in his way and leave the
victory to him."
"So Randolph won the watch?"
"Yes."
"I suppose he had a watch of his own already."
"Yes, a silver one, while Luke had none. This makes it meaner
in him."
"I don't mind it now, mother," said Luke, who had overheard the last
part of the conversation. "He is welcome to his watches--I can wait."
"Has Squire Duncan shown his hostility to Luke in any other way?"
inquired the stranger.
"Yes; Luke has for over a year been janitor at the school-house.
It didn't bring much--only a dollar a week--but it was considerable
to us. Lately Squire Duncan was appointed on the school committee
to fill a vacancy, and his first act was to remove Luke from his
position."
"Not in favor of his son, I conclude."
Luke laughed.
"Randolph would be shocked at the mere supposition," he said. "He is
a young man who wears kid gloves, and the duties of a school janitor
he would look upon as degrading.
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