at least an hereditary friend, but owing to the peculiar circumstances
of my life, I have none. I do not mean I am friendless, you understand.
I have some school and college friends, good ones. It is in background
I am particularly lacking," he concluded.

"I have allowed my friends to slip away from me," confessed the Miser.
"It was the force of circumstances in my case, too, though I brought it
upon myself. I have been justly misunderstood."

"'Justly misunderstood.'" The Candy Man repeated the words to himself as
he walked home in the frosty night. They were strange words, but he did
not believe them irrational.




CHAPTER NINE

_Shows how Miss Bentley and the Reporter take refuge in a cave, and
how in the course of the conversation which follows, she hears something
which disposes her to feel more kindly toward the Candy Man; shows also
how Uncle Bob proves faithless to his trust, and his niece finds herself
locked out in consequence._


"Let's pretend we are pursued by wild Indians and take refuge in this
cave."

The scene was one of those afternoon crushes which everybody attends and
few enjoy. Miss Bentley, struggling with an ice, which the state of the