"After I had squandereda the money you paid me，through Major Doyle，for this farm，in a vain endeavor to protect a patent I had secured，I was forced to become a chauffeur to earn my livelihood.I understand automobiles，you know，and obtained employment with a wealthy man who considered me a mere part of his machine.When the accident occurred，through no fault of mine，I was，fortunately，the only person injured；but my employer was so incensedb over the damage to his automobile that he never even sent to inquire whether I lived or died.At a charity hospital they tried to mend my breaks and tinker up my anatomyc.My shoulder—blade was shattered，my arm broken in three places，and four ribs were crashed in.The wounds in my head are mere abrasionsd of the scalpe，and not serious.But it has taken me a long time to mend，and the crowded，stuffy hospital got on my nerves and worried me.Being penniless and friendless，I wrote to Thomas and asked him if he could find a way to get me to the old farm，for I never imagined you would yourself take possession of the deserted place you had bought.
"Thomas and Nora have cared for me since I was born，you know，and the old man was greatly distressed by the knowledge of my sad condition.He did not tell me you were here，for fear I would hesitate to come，but he sent me themoney you had given him and Nora for wages，together with all that the young ladies had kindly given him.I was thus enabled to leave the hospital，which I had come to detesta，and journey to my old home.I arrived at the Junction on a night train，and Thomas met me with your surrey，drove me here under cover of darkness，and concealed me in this out—of—the—way place，hoping you would not discover me.
"I regret that I was thus foistedb upon you，believe me，sir；but，being here，I have no means of getting away again.Thomas Hucks has had little worldly experience，and cannot realize the full extent of the imposition he has practiced.He feeds me from your table，and is hoarding up his money for me against the time I shall have recovered suf？ciently to leave.I think that is the full explanation，Mr.Merrick."Again Uncle John nodded."How are you？"he asked.
"Doing ？nely，sir.I can walk a little，and my appetite is improving.The doctors said my shoulder would never be very strong again，but I'm beginning to hope they were mistaken.My ribs seem all right，and in another ten days I shall remove the splints from my arm.""You have no medical attendance？""Not since I left the hospital.But I imagine this pure，bracing air is better for me than a dozen doctors，"was the cheerful reply.
"And what are your future plans？"
The young man smiled.He was little more thana a boy，but his questioner noticed that he had a ？ne manly face and his eye was clear and steadfastb.
"Nothing further than to get to work again as soon as I am able to undertake it，"he said.
Uncle John looked thoughtfully，and drummed with his ？nger upon the little table.
"Joseph，"he remarked，presently，"I bought this farm ata price altogether too small，considering its value."The boy ？ushed.
"Please do not say that！"he exclaimed，hastily."I amwell aware that I virtually robbed you，and my only excuse is that I believed I would win my ？ght and be able to redeemc the place.But that is over now，and you must not think that because I am ill and helpless I am an object of charity.""Phoo！"said the little man；"aren't you accepting charityfrom Old Hucks？""But he stands as a second father to me.He is an old retainer of my family，and one of my ambitions is to secure a home for him and Nora in their old age.No；I do not feel at all embarrassed in accepting money or assistance from Thomas.""Young man，"said Uncle John，sternly，"one of thefolliesa of youth is the idea of being independent of the good—will of your fellow—creatures.Every person who lives is dependent on some other person for something or other，and I'll not allow you to make a fool of yourself by refusing to let me take you in hand.Your brain is affected—""It is not！""You are mentally unbalanced，and need a guardian.That's me.You are helpless and cannot resist，so you're my prisoner.Dare to defy me，dare to oppose my wishes in any way，and I'll have you put in a straight—jacket and con？ned in a padded cell.Understand me，sir？"Joseph Wegg looked into the little man's round face until the tears ？lled his own eyes and blurred his vision.
"Won't you protect me，Major Doyle？"he asked，weakly.
"Not I，"said the Major，stoutly."This brother—in—law of mine，who connected himself with me without asking permission，is a perfect demon when 'roused，and I'll not meddleb with any opposition to his desires.If you value your life and happiness，Joseph Wegg，you'll accept Mr.Merrick as a guardian until he resigns of his own accord，and then it's likely you'll wish he hadn't.""I don't deserve—"began the young man，brokenly；butUncle John quickly interrupted him.
"No one deserves anything，"said he；"but everyonefgets something or other，nevertheless，in this vale of tears.If you'll kindly remember that you've no right to express an opinion in the presence of your guardian，we'll get along better together.Now，then，you're going to leave here，because the place is not comfortable.My guests ？ll every room in my house，so you can't go there.But the hotel in Millville is a cheerful—looking place，and I've noticed some vine—covered windows that indicate pleasant and sunny rooms.Major，go and tell Hucks to hitch that groaning，balky Daniel to the ancient buggy，and then to drive this young man over to the hotel.We'll walk."The Major started at once，and Uncle John continued：
"I don't know whether this arrangement suits you or not，Joseph，but it suits me；and，as a matter of fact，it's none of your business.Feel able to take a ride？"The boy smiled，gratefully.
"Yes，indeed，Mr.Merrick，"said he，and was shrewd enough not to venture a word of thanks.
