If Hetty married Wilkins, the artful Silas would gain an able-
bodied, capable major-domo, and he would not lose his pet lamb. I
said, rather tartly--
"Look here, Upham, you know nothing of Wilkins, and I advise you and--
er--Miss Hetty to go slow."
"I do go slow," said my host, "but Hetty likes to buzz along. She's a
mover, she is."
As we rode home I told Ajax that Opportunity had thrust into Wilkins'
hand a very tempting morsel. Was he going to swallow it? And ought we
to ask some questions?
I think it was on the following Wednesday that Wilkins walked over to
the ranch-house, and asked for a job.
"I've left Upham," he said curtly.
We had not much to offer; such as it was, Wilkins accepted it. Ajax
drove to Upham's to fetch Wilkins' blankets and belongings. When he
came back, he drew me aside.
"Silas offered him the billet of foreman. Wilkins _refused it_."
* * * * *
A month passed. Wilkins worked hard at first, and his ability, his
shrewdness, confounded us, as it had confounded Silas Upham. Then, he
began to slack, as boys put it. Small duties were ill done or not done
at all.
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