Andy's eyes widened. "What you talkin' 'bout?" he said.

Uncle William's gaze was on him affectionately. He looked a
little puzzled. "I dunno jest what I _did_ start to say," he said
apologetically. "I was thinkin' what a store I set by you, Andy."

Andy's face softened a trifle. "Now, look here, Willum, a mortgage is
fair. It wouldn't hurt you none, nor your place--"

William shook his head. "I couldn't do it, Andy. I wouldn't reely trust
you with a mortgage. You might get scared and foreclose some day if I
couldn't pay the interest, and you'd be ashamed enough--doin' a thing
like that."

The next day Andy drew the hundred from the bank and turned it over to
William without even a note to guard his sacred rights. Andy had tried
in the night watches to formulate a note. He had selected the best, from
a row of crafty suggestions, about four o'clock. But later, as he and
William went up the road, the note dropped by the way.

Uncle William stowed the money in his pocket with a comfortable smile.
"You've done the right thing, Andy, and I shall pay you back when I can.
You'll get your interest reg'lar--six per cent."

Andy's face held a kind of subdued gloom. He mourned not as those
without hope, but with a chastened expectancy. To lend William money had
almost the fine flavor of gambling.

He saw him off the following morning, with a sense of widened interests.
He carried, moreover, an additional burden. "Remember, Andy," Uncle