Christian community. Is it possible that an old man such as that was
sold like a cow or a horse to the lowest bidder!"

"Well, what else could have been done with him, then?"

"Wasn't there any one in the whole parish, willing to take care of him?"

"H'm, I guess people have all they can do to look after themselves
without being burdened with a half-cracked creature such as that. It
was the best thing they could do. It would not be fair for one person
to have the entire expense of keeping him, so by this method all have a
share in his support."

"But I call it degrading," Lois insisted, "not only to the old man
himself, but to the people living here. He seems such a gentleman,
that I was drawn to him this afternoon."

"Going to take him under your wing, eh?" Dick bantered. "He'll be as
interesting as your other protégé, I assure you. By the way, I saw him
this afternoon, and he looked his part all right, ho, ho," and Dick
laughed as he gulped down his tea.

"Who's that, Dick?" Mr. Sinclair inquired.

"Oh, Lois knows," was the reply. "She can tell you all about 'Spuds'
as well as I can, and maybe better."

"Why should I know?" his sister asked, somewhat sharply. "I only met
him once, and that was years ago."