Mr. Stark had now been several days in Milford.
What brought him there, or what object
he had in staying, Leonard had not yet
ascertained. He generally spent part of his
evenings with the stranger, and had once or
twice received from him a small sum of money.
Usually, however, he had met Mr. Stark in
the billiard room, and played a game or two
of billiards with him. Mr. Stark always paid
for the use of the table, and that was naturally
satisfactory to Leonard, who enjoyed amusement
at the expense of others.
Leonard, bearing in mind his uncle's request,
had not mentioned his name to Mr. Stark, and
Stark, though he had walked about the village
more or less, had not chanced to meet Mr. Gibbon.
He had questioned Leonard, however, about
Mr. Jennings, and whether he was supposed to be rich.
Leonard had answered freely that everyone
considered him so.
"But he doesn't know how to enjoy his money," he added.
"We should," said Stark, jocularly.
"You bet we would," returned Leonard; and
he was quite sincere in his boast, as we know
from his conversation with Carl.
"By the way," said Stark, on this particular
evening, "I never asked you about your family,
Leonard. I suppose you live with your parents."
"No, sir. They are dead."
"Then whom do you live with?"
"With my uncle," answered Leonard, guardedly.
"Is his name Craig?"
"No."
"What then?"
"I've got to tell him," thought Leonard.
"Well, I don't suppose there will be much
harm in it. My uncle is bookkeeper for Mr.
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