Thad was at home and up to his eyes in rewinding a fishing-rod that needed attention.  When Hugh burst in upon him with such a glow in his face and a light in his eyes, Thad knew that something bordering on the wonderful must have occurred.

Singular to say, his first remark was pretty near a bull’s-eye, showing that he must have been thinking about the ex-hobo as he wound the waxed red silk around the guides of his fishing-rod.

“What’s happened, Hugh?  Oh! have you found a way we can get rid of that sticker of a Brother Lu?  Something seems to whisper to me you’ve struck a scheme.  Pitch right in and tell me all about it, Hugh.”

“There has a way come up, sure enough,” said Hugh, beaming on his chum, as well might the bearer of such glorious news.  “After today that tramp will never eat another mouthful of food at the expense of his poor sister and brother-in-law!”

“Then he’s going to skip out, is he?” burst from the delighted Thad.  “Bully for that!  However did it happen, Hugh; and what sort of a hand in it did you have?”

“I don’t claim the least credit for it,” he was firmly told; “and for that matter Mr.—–­I mean Brother Lu, isn’t going to shake the dust of Scranton off his feet, yet awhile at least.  Something else has happened to bring about the change.  Here, I just can’t hold the wonderful news in any longer, Thad.  Listen!”

Accordingly Hugh started to pour out the story.  He had Thad sitting there and almost ceasing to breathe, so deeply interested was he in everything.  When Hugh got to where he discovered the ex-tramp talking with the chauffeur of the big touring car, and seemingly with authority, Thad jumped up and began to dance around excitedly.

“Oh, joy unconfined!  I’m just beginning to glimpse how it’s going to turn out, that’s what I am, Hugh!” he exclaimed, trembling all over with the violence of his emotions.  “Wouldn’t that be the limit, though, if this old hobo proved to be the good fairy coming in disguise to prove the worth of the ones he meant to assist?  Go on and tell me the rest, like a good fellow, Hugh.  Is he very rich; where did he make all his money; was that his fine big car, and his chauffeur; was he just testing Matilda and Andrew to prove how they were true gold?  It’s the greatest thing that ever happened for Matilda, for Andrew; ditto for you and me, because we’ve had a hand in it all, haven’t we, Hugh?”

The rest of the amazing story was soon told.  Thad shook hands with his chum again and again.  He fairly bubbled over with enthusiasm.

“I’m so glad, so glad, for Matilda’s sake!” he kept saying.  “I warrant you now that fine brother of hers has got some wonderfully big thing up his sleeve; and so we’re invited to go along and see the fairy story through, are we, Hugh?  How long do we have to wait before making a start for the Hosmer cottage?  I wonder if Matilda’ll care if we keep company with them on their picnic?  First thing she’ll do will be to run back and add some more to the basket, because she knows how boys can eat like a house afire.  I don’t see how I can stand it waiting nearly a whole hour; but then there are a hundred other questions I’m burning to ask you.”