He seemed
convinced that Luke had come by your tin box dishonestly."
"It seemed to me that he was prejudiced against Luke.
How do you account for it?"
"Perhaps his son, Randolph, has influenced him."
"So he has a son--how old?"
"Almost Luke's age. He thinks Luke beneath him, though why he
should do so, except that Luke is poor, I can't understand.
Not long since there was a skating match for a prize of a
Waterbury watch, offered by the grammar-school teacher, which Luke
would have won had not Randolph arranged with another boy to
get in his way and leave the victory to him."
"So Randolph won the watch?"
"Yes."
"I suppose he had a watch of his own already."
"Yes, a silver one, while Luke had none. This makes it
meaner in him."
"I don't mind it now, mother," said Luke, who had overheard
the last part of the conversation. "He is welcome to his watches
--I can wait."
"Has Squire Duncan shown his hostility to Luke in any other way?"
inquired the stranger.
"Yes; Luke has for over a year been janitor at the school-house.
It didn't bring much--only a dollar a week--but it was considerable
to us. Lately Squire Duncan was appointed on the school committee
to fill a vacancy, and his first act was to remove Luke from
his position.
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