old Miles carried no more telegrams to Hetertown.

The telegraph business, however, became much less interesting to Kate
and the boys. It seemed to them as if it had been taken entirely out of
their hands, which was, indeed, the true state of the case. They were
the nominal owners and directors of the line, but they had nothing to
direct, and very vague ideas about the value of the property they owned.

"I don't know," said Tom Selden, as he sat one afternoon in Mr. Loudon's
yard, with Harry and Kate, "whether we've made much by this business or
not. Those mica people keep all the accounts and do all the charging,
and if they want to cheat us, I don't see what's to hinder them."

"But you know," said Harry, "that we can examine their accounts; and,
besides, Mr. Lyons will keep a tally of all the messages sent, and I
don't believe that he would cheat us."

"No; I don't suppose he would," said Tom; "but I liked the old way best.
There was more fun in it."

"Yes, there was," said Kate; "and then we helped old Lewston and Aunt
Judy. I expect they'll miss the money they got for rent."

"Certainly," said Harry. "They'll have to deny themselves many a luxury
in consequence of the loss of that dollar a month."

"Now you're making fun," said Kate; "but twelve dollars a year is a good
deal to those poor people."

"I suppose it is," said Harry. "In fifty years, it would be six hundred