“This formed a nucleus, and soon quite a village sprang up.  The sawmill and gristmill proved profitable, all my houses were tenanted, and I erected more, securing also additional land.  In course of time I was induced to sell some of my houses, but I still own two stores, a dozen houses, the saw and gristmills, besides two outlying farms.

“Living so far away, I could not attend personally to the business connected with my investment, and was compelled to appoint an agent.  Up to four years since, I was fortunate enough to possess the services of a capable and trustworthy man, named Sampson.  He died after a few weeks’ illness, and I was compelled to look out for a successor.

“Now, I had a distant cousin, who had never succeeded very well in life, and was at that time seeking for employment of some kind.  He heard of the vacancy, and importuned me to appoint him as my agent in Jackson.  I had no reason to doubt his honesty, though his repeated failures might well have led me to suspect his capacity.  I was weak enough, as I now consider it, to yield to his importunities and give him the post he sought.

“The result was that during the first year of his incumbency the amount turned over to me was only three-fourths as much as in the last year of his predecessor.  The second year there was a further falling off.  The same happened the third year, until at the present time my rents amount to less than half what they were in Mr. Sampson’s time.

“Of course, my suspicions that my cousin was at least inefficient were aroused long since.  I have repeatedly asked an explanation of the diminished revenues, and plenty of excuses have been made, but they do not seem to me satisfactory.

“Moreover, I have heard a rumor that Mr. Fairfield is intemperate in his habits, and I have considerable reason to believe that the story is correct.  I have made up my mind that something must be done.  A regard for my own interests requires that if my agent is unfaithful he should be displaced, and I wish to find out from some reliable source the true state of the case.

“Now I will tell you what I have in view.  I propose to send you out to Jackson to investigate and report to me your impressions of the manner in which Mr. Fairfield discharges his duties, and whether you think a change should be made in the agency.”

Frank listened to Mr. Percival with a flushed face and a feeling of gratification and pride that he should be thought of in connection with a responsible duty.

“I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Percival,” he said, “for thinking of me in such a connection.  You may feel that I am presumptuous for thinking I have any chance of successfully accomplishing what you desire, but if you are willing to trust me, I am willing to undertake it, and by following your instructions closely, and doing my best, I think I can succeed.”

“I am willing to trust you, Frank,” said Mr. Percival.  “You are a boy, to be sure, but you have unusually good judgment, and I know you will be faithful to my interests.  I understand, then, that you are willing to go out as my accredited representative?”