"Then it's a bargain, my boy, and you shall leave town with me
tonight."



II: TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME


Toby could scarcely restrain himself at the prospect of this golden
future that had so suddenly opened before him. He tried to express
his gratitude, but could only do so by evincing his willingness to
commence work at once.

"No, no, that won't do," said Mr. Lord, cautiously. "If your uncle
Daniel should see you working here, he might mistrust something,
and then you couldn't get away."

"I don't believe he'd try to stop me," said Toby, confidently; "for
he's told me lots of times that it was a sorry day for him when he
found me."

"We won't take any chances, my son," was the reply, in a very
benevolent tone, as he patted Toby on the head and at the same
time handed him a piece of pasteboard. "There's a ticket for the
circus, and you come around to see me about ten o'clock tonight.
I'll put you on one of the wagons, and by' tomorrow morning your
uncle Daniel will have hard work to find you."

If Toby had followed his inclinations, the chances are that he
would have fallen on his knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the