Streaming Data Pipelines with Kafka (MEAP) Stefan Sprenger

Streaming Data Pipelines with Kafka (MEAP)
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Streaming Data Pipelines with Kafka
1. Welcome
2. 1_Getting_into_data_streaming
3. 2_A_walk_through_Kafka_and_its_ecosystem
4. 3_Integrating_data_systems_in_real-time_with_Kafka_Connect

Welcome
Thank you for purchasing Streaming Data Pipelines with Kafka in MEAP.
We are used to getting groceries delivered in under ten minutes and we can
access almost any information at any time via search engines, yet most data
integrations are implemented with batch pipelines that leave data systems out
of sync at most times. Streaming data pipelines are a modern alternative to
batch pipelines: They replicate data between data systems like database
systems and APIs in real-time and can process them on the way. As a
foundational technology of modern, real- time data architectures, streaming
data pipelines enable downstream data consumers to always work with fresh
data. Unfortunately, you still need to become an expert in many technologies
to successfully apply them.
I am writing this book for data engineers, software developers, and others
who face use cases for data- integration at their workplace. It aims to provide
a complete introduction to the concepts, development, and deployment of
streaming data pipelines, with a strong focus on the open-source technology
Apache Kafka, the de-facto industry standard for event streaming. The book
not only teaches foundational concepts of streaming data pipelines but
prepares the reader to successfully implement them at their workplace.
Throughout the book, we will help an imaginary e-commerce company to
migrate its legacy batch pipelines to a modern streaming architecture and
overcome the typical challenges of such migrations.
My goal is to develop the best book possible. Your feedback on early
versions of the book is essential for its development and is highly
appreciated. Please don’t hesitate to post your questions, comments, or
suggestions in the liveBook discussion forum.
-Stefan Sprenger
In this book

Welcome 1 Getting into data streaming 2 A walk through Kafka and its
ecosystem 3 Integrating data systems in real-time with Kafka Connect

1 Getting into data streaming
This chapter covers
An introduction to streaming data pipelines and their building blocks
The shortcomings of traditional batch data pipelines
The relationship between data streaming and batch processing
Use cases for stream processing
In the last decades, software has eaten the world. Across all industries,
companies have adopted software solutions at their core to unlock new
business models, improve their efficiency, and provide more value to
customers. Businesses use CRM tools to manage customer relationships,
drive their decision-making with reporting and dashboards, and predict the
impact of price changes with AI models. Similar to cars requiring fuel to
drive, these software systems run on data. Modern businesses employ a
plethora of different software solutions that they cannot operate as isolated
silos but need to integrate with each other to derive the maximum value.
Integrating software systems has never been an easy task but is becoming
even more complex these days.
We are used to getting groceries delivered in ten minutes and can access
almost any information at any time via search engines - Why are most data
integrations neither working in real-time nor syncing data changes instantly
after their occurrence? At the same time, businesses operate an ever-growing
number of different systems and easily spend six to seven digits on cloud
computing per year, making them favor efficient data integrations that sync
only relevant data changes instead of performing resource-wasting bulk
loads.
Fortunately, there is a modern, event-driven approach to cope with the
demanding requirements of data-driven businesses: Streaming data pipelines.
1.1 Introducing streaming data pipelines

Data pipelines integrate different data systems. They replicate data from data
sources, like database systems, to data sinks, like data warehouses, and can
process the data on the way.
Most datasets are unbounded. Whether it is a transactional database system
empowering an online shop, a cloud object store holding sales data, or an API
exposing user data; it is very likely that these datasets are not static but
experience changes frequently. To this end, most data pipelines are not one-
off deployments but must be recurringly or continuously executed.
1.1.1 Going one step back: Batch data pipelines
Traditionally, data pipelines are implemented with batch processing: They
recurringly extract all data from data sources, processing them in one go, and
publish the processed data to data sinks. Figure 1.1 shows a batch data
pipeline that integrates MySQL, a transactional database system, with
ClickHouse, a data warehouse. Each night at 2 AM, the batch pipeline (1)
extracts all data from MySQL, (2) cleans up the data, and (3) ingests the
processed data into ClickHouse. While batch pipelines are fairly
straightforward to implement, they put a tremendous load on all components
of the architecture, which precludes a frequent execution. As a consequence,
data consumers, like dashboards, reporting tools, or analytical applications,
do not have access to up-to-date data.
Figure 1.1 Each night at 2 AM, a batch data pipeline replicates data from MySQL to ClickHouse
and processes them on the way.

Note
While most database systems provide the same interface, the Structured
Query Language (SQL), they typically do not optimize for all kinds of
workloads but focus on either transactional, write-heavy operations or
analytical, ready-heavy use cases. For instance, MySQL is a solid choice for
managing the continuously-changing state of an application, like an online
shop, but does not cater well to the analytical queries executed by
dashboards, reporting tools, and data-intensive applications.

The simple and straightforward implementation of batch data pipelines comes
at the cost of several drawbacks in the timely, efficient, and robust processing
of data:
1. Batch data pipelines cannot be executed with a high frequency. Business
teams cannot support decisions with current information but are almost
always working with outdated data, which might lead to missed business
opportunities.
2. Batch pipelines are quite heavy and put a lot of load onto data source
systems because they extract all data at each execution. To avoid
impacting the performance of data sources, batch pipelines are typically
executed outside of business hours. Debugging production issues is a
challenge and rollouts of bug fixes must wait until the next execution.
3. Single runs of batch pipelines can easily take multiple hours because
they are processing very large datasets. If batch pipelines fail while
executing, they might leave data sinks in a corrupted state until the next
execution of the pipeline. It might also happen that pipelines finish their
execution after the start of the business day.
4. Batch pipelines see data sources at the time of data extraction and might
miss incremental updates that occurred in between two runs.
1.1.2 Building blocks of streaming data pipelines
Similar to batch pipelines, streaming data pipelines replicate data from data
sources to data sinks and can process them on the way. The big difference is
that they are being executed continuously, work in real-time, and process
incremental updates. Once a change has been applied to a data source,
streaming data pipelines extract the change event (basically a row-level
INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE event), process it, and publish the processed
change event to the data sink.
Figure 1.2 Employing a streaming data pipeline to replicate data from MySQL to ClickHouse in
real-time and process them on the way.

Figure 1.2 illustrates how the example from the prior section could be
implemented with a streaming data pipeline:
Connectors integrate the streaming data pipeline with external data
sources and external data sinks, here MySQL and ClickHouse. The data
source connector employs change data capture (CDC) for extracting
row-level data change events from the replication log of MySQL in real-
time. The data sink connector publishes processed change events to
ClickHouse. Connectors may apply lightweight data transformations to
events after extracting them from a data source or before publishing

them to a data sink, e.g., for converting between data formats.
The open-source community provides a few projects that implement
connectors for data streaming use cases; the most popular and complete
one is Kafka Connect, which is part of the official Apache Kafka
release. Kafka Connect provides hundreds of different connectors for
integrating Apache Kafka with external data systems, like MySQL or
ClickHouse. While using existing connectors helps you to save time and
minimize potential errors, developing custom connectors can make
sense if you are dealing with uncommon data systems that are not (yet)
covered by Kafka Connect.
Stream processors handle the processing of events while replicating
them from data sources to data sinks. They often integrate with an event
store, like Apache Kafka. Stateless stream processing operations, such
as transformations or filters, process event by event and do not consider
the order or time of the events. Stateful stream processing operations,
such as aggregations or joins, perform computations over windows of
events. They are more complex than stateless operations, require
maintaining and persisting the state of the computations, and need a
notion of time. They also need mechanisms for dealing with scenarios,
like the late arrival of events.
Traditionally, stream processors are implemented with projects, such as
Kafka Streams or Apache Flink, and in programming languages, like
Java, Scala, or Python. Recently, a lot of tools started introducing SQL
layers on top of their programmatic APIs, which simplifies the
development of stream processing logic at the cost of flexibility. If you
are heavily building on top of Apache Kafka, Kafka Streams might be a
reasonable choice.
Event stores, like Apache Kafka, persist events in a reliable and
scalable way. Streaming data pipelines employ event brokers to persist
(1) events that have been extracted by source connectors from an
external data source, like MySQL, and are passed to the stream
processor and (2) events that have been processed by the stream
processor and are consumed by the sink connector for publishing them
to an external data sink, like ClickHouse. Using dedicated storage for
events instead of passing them directly between the connectors and the
stream processor is very useful for a number of reasons, like the
mitigation of backpressure, which occurs when consumers cannot keep

up with the pace of the producers, or the replaying of events. Event
stores also enable streaming data pipelines to achieve a high tolerance
towards failures and temporary outages of single components. Apache
Kafka is the most popular storage solution in the industry. Even most of
its competitors, like Azure Event Hubs or RedPanda, provide a Kafka-
compatible API. Apache Kafka provides low-level interfaces for
consuming and producing events; Kafka Connect and Kafka Streams
build on top of these interfaces and may help you save time when
implementing connectors or stream processing logic.
1.1.3 Integrating data in real-time with Apache Kafka
Let us have a closer look at how you can use Apache Kafka, Kafka Connect,
and Kafka Streams to build a data pipeline that streams order data from an
online shop to a data warehouse in real-time.
Figure 1.3 Visualization of a streaming data pipeline capturing CDC events from a MySQL
database with Kafka Connect, processing them with Kafka Streams, and inserting them into
ClickHouse with Kafka Connect; Kafka topics are used for persisting records.

When a website visitor places an order on the website of an e-commerce
shop, the shop software executes an INSERT statement for adding a new row
to the table orders of the underlying database system, here MySQL. Most
database systems offer log files for replicating data between multiple
database instances; one database instance can subscribe to the log file of
another database instance and consume all data change events in real-time,
allowing different database instances to stay in sync. The great thing about
replication logs is that subscribing to them does not put any load onto the
database system, because it bypasses the database system’s query layer and
lets subscribers directly access the log file. MySQL’s replication log is called

the Binary Log.
The open-source project Debezium, which provides Kafka Connect source
connectors for various database systems, leverages this mechanism for
detecting and capturing changes in real-time and without impacting the
performance of MySQL. Once MySQL has flushed the change event to its
Binary Log, Debezium extracts the event and produces it to an Apache Kafka
topic, here called orders_raw. Internally, Debezium maintains the latest
position of the Binary Log that it has successfully processed and persists that
information in another Kafka topic, which allows resuming data extraction
after restarts or downtimes without reprocessing data.
The Kafka Streams application subscribes to the Kafka topic orders_raw,
consumes new records immediately after their occurrence, and applies a
custom data masking function to the records for masking credit card
numbers. After processing the records, the Kafka Streams application
produces them to another Kafka topic, called orders_clean. The Kafka
Streams application is a regular Java application.
A Kafka Connect sink connector subscribes to the Kafka topic
orders_clean, consumes new records immediately after their occurrence,
and publishes them to ClickHouse by executing INSERT statements.
The Kafka Connect connectors and the Kafka Streams application are loosely
coupled, share data via Kafka topics, and are deployed independently of each
other. That is, restarting the Kafka Streams application does not affect the
uptime of the connectors and vice versa.
1.1.4 Benefits and challenges of streaming data pipelines
Streaming data pipelines represent a much more natural, robust, and efficient
approach to dealing with unbounded datasets than their batch-based
counterparts. Instead of performing recurring bulk loads at fixed times,
streaming data pipelines continuously replicate data change events from the
consumed data sources to the downstream data sinks.
Notably, streaming data pipelines offer the following benefits:

Data sinks are always in sync with data sources: Streaming data
pipelines minimize the gap between the time a change event occurs in
the data source and the time the processed event arrives at the data sink,
often offering sub-second latencies. They allow downstream data
consumers, regardless of whether these are humans manually
interpreting the data or applications processing the data in a
programmatic manner, to work with up-to-date data.
Capturing of all changes occurring in data sources: Log-based CDC
connectors make all changes from a data source available to streaming
data pipelines and downstream data consumers, while batch pipelines
observe the state of the data source at the time of data extraction. Having
access to high-fidelity data is beneficial for a number of use cases,
including audit logs.
Better resource footprint: When employing CDC, streaming data
pipelines must process only the data that have changed, i.e., incremental
changes. They keep all other data untouched and help to reduce the load
on all involved systems and improve the overall usage of computing
resources, which potentially leads to a reduction in cost.
Minimal impact on production database systems: Processing
incremental changes instead of performing bulk loads is beneficial for
reducing the load on the consumed data source, because much less data
is touched at execution time. When employing log-based CDC,
streaming data pipelines further reduce the load on the consumed
database system because they do not need to execute SELECT * FROM
queries but can extract data from the replication log files of the database
system.
Predictable workload patterns: Batch pipelines show peak resource
consumption at execution time and are stale for the rest of the time,
which wastes a lot of compute resources. Streaming data pipelines have
rather flat workload patterns as they continuously replicate change
events. They reduce the cost and allow for the usage of elastic workload
scaling, as available in cloud computing technologies like Kubernetes.
There is no free lunch. While providing clear benefits and advantages over
batch processing, the architectures of streaming systems are more complex
and require expertise in multiple technologies. This book helps you to
overcome the hurdles associated with data streaming and prepares you for the

Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content

and seating himself, began to watch a game between a young man
of twenty-five and a man probably fifteen years his senior. The first
was evidently a gentleman by birth and education; his dress and
manners evinced this. The other looked like an adventurer, though
he was well-dressed.
"Come, let us play for drinks," said the elder.
"I've drank enough," said the young man.
"Nonsense. You can stand a little more."
"Just as you say."
The game terminated in favor of the elder, and the drinks were
brought.
This went on for some time. The young man was evidently affected.
Finally he threw down his cue, and said;
"I won't play again."
"Why not?"
"My hand is unsteady. I have drank too much."
"I've drank as much as you, but I am all right."
"You can stand more than I. I'll settle for the drinks and games and
go home."
"Shan't I see you home?" asked the elder.
"I don't want to trouble you."
"No trouble at all."
The young man paid at the bar, displaying a well-filled pocketbook.
There was something in his companion's expression which made
Tony suspicious. He formed a sudden resolve.

"I'll follow them," he said, and when they left the room he was close
behind them.

CHAPTER XXIX.
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
The young man leaned on the arm of his companion. He was
affected by the potations in which he had indulged, and was sensible
of his condition.
"I ought not to have drank so much," he said, in unsteady accents.
"Pooh! it's nothing," said the other, lightly. "Where are you
stopping?"
"St. Nicholas."
"We'd better walk; it will do you good to walk."
"Just as you say."
"Of course, I would only advise you for your good."
"I know it; but old fellow, why did you make me drink so much?"
"I thought you could stand it better. I'm as cool as a cucumber."
He pressed the young man's arm, and led him into a side street.
"What's that for? This ain't the way to St. Nicholas."
"I know it."
"Why don't you go up Broadway?"
"You are not fit to go in yet. You need a longer walk, so that your
condition will not be noticed when you go in."
"Go along old fellow; you're right."

Still Tony kept behind. All seemed right enough, but somehow he
could not help feeling suspicious of the older man.
"I'll watch him," he thought, "and if he attempts any mischief I'll
interfere."
The two men walked in a westerly direction, crossing several streets.
"Look here," said the young man, "we'd better turn back."
Now was the time.
The other looked swiftly around, but did not notice Tony, who was
tracking him in the darkness.
"Give me your watch and money at once, or I'll blow your brains
out."
"Look here, you're only trying to play a joke on me."
"You're mistaken. I'm a desperate man. I will do as I say."
"Then you're a villain," said the young man, with spirit. "You've
made me drunk in order to rob me."
"Precisely. Your money or your life. That's about what I mean."
"I'll call the police."
"If you do it will be your last word. Now make up your mind."
The young man, instead of complying, endeavored to break away,
but in his intoxication he had lost half his strength, and was no
match for the other.
"You fool! your blood be on your own hands!" said his companion,
and he drew a pistol from his side pocket.
An instant and he would have fired, but Tony was on the alert. He
sprang forward, seized the would-be murderer by the arm, and the

pistol went off, but the bullet struck a brick wall on the opposite side
of the street.
"Police!" shouted Tony, at the top of his lungs.
"Confusion!" exclaimed the villain. "I must be getting out of this."
He turned to fly, but Tony seized him by the coat, and he struggled
fiercely, but in vain.
"Let go, you young scoundrel!" he shouted, "or I'll shoot you."
"With an unloaded pistol?" asked Tony. "That don't scare much."
A quick step was heard, and a policeman turned the corner.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"I charge this man with an attempt at murder," said Tony.
"The boy is right," said the young man.
"They are both lying," said the adventurer, furiously. "It's a plot
against me."
"I know you, Bill Jones," said the policeman, after a careful scrutiny
of the man's features. "You're a hard ticket. Come along with me.
You two must go with me to prefer your charge."
"Let me have your arm, my boy," said the young man; "I'm ashamed
to own that I need your help. It is the last time I will allow liquor to
get the better of me."
"I guess you're about right there," said Tony. "You've had a narrow
escape."
"I owe my life to you," said the young man, warmly. "How did you
happen to come up just in the nick of time?"
"I suspected the man meant you no good. I followed you from the
billiard saloon, where I saw you playing."

"You were sharper than I. I never suspected harm. You have done
me the greatest possible service."
"Curse the young brat!" muttered the man in custody. "I'd like a
good chance to wring your neck."
"I've no doubt of it," said Tony. "I'll keep out of your way."
The station house was not far off. The party entered. The charge
was formally made, and Tony and the young man went out.
"Won't your father and mother feel anxious about your being out so
late?" asked George Spencer, for this was the young man's name.
"I don't think they will," answered Tony. "I haven't got any for that
matter."
"Who do you live with then?"
"I take care of myself."
"Have you no one belonging to you?"
"Not one."
"Are you poor?" asked Spencer, for the first time taking notice of
Tony's rather shabby apparel.
"Oh, no," said our hero. "I've got a little over two dollars in my
pocket."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, and it's a good deal more than I generally have."
"You don't say so. How do you make your living?"
"Any way I can. Any way that's honest."
"And don't you ever get discouraged—down in the mouth?"

"Not often," answered Tony. "I've always got along, and I guess
something will turn up for me. But there's one thing I'm sorry for."
"What's that?"
"I would like to get some sort of an education; I don't know much."
"Can you read?"
"A little, and write a little. I mostly picked it up myself."
The young man whistled.
"Have you any place to sleep to-night?"
"I've hired an attic room for a week."
"What do you pay?"
"A dollar a week."
"Of course, it's a poor room?"
"Yes; but it's all I can expect, and better than I often have. Why, I've
slept in barns and under haystacks plenty of times."
"What is your name?"
"Tony Rugg."
"Well, Tony, you must come and stop with me to-night."
"With you?"
"Yes; at the St. Nicholas Hotel. You can help me get there, and share
my room."
Tony hesitated.
"Do you mean it?" he asked.
"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because you're a gentleman, and I—do you know what they call
me?"
"What?"
"Tony, the Tramp."
"It is your misfortune and not your fault. I repeat my invitation—will
you come?"
"I will," answered Tony.
He saw that the young man was in earnest, and he no longer
persisted in his refusal.
"To-morrow morning I will talk with you further about your affairs. I
want to do something for you."
"You are very kind."
"I ought to be. Haven't you saved my life? But there is the hotel."
Tony and his new friend entered the great hotel. It was brilliantly
lighted, though it was now nearly midnight.
Mr. Spencer went up to the desk.
"My key," he said; "No. 169."
"Here it is, sir."
"This young man will share my room; I will enter his name."
The clerk looked at Tony in surprise. He looked rather shabby for a
guest of the great caravansery.
"Has he luggage?" asked the clerk.
"None to-night; I will pay his bill."
"All right, sir."

They got into the elevator, and presently came to a stop. Mr.
Spencer opened the door of 169.
It was a good-sized and handsomely furnished chamber, containing
two beds.
"You will sleep in that bed, Tony," said Spencer. "I feel dead tired.
Will you help me off with my coat?"
Scarcely was the young man in bed than he fell asleep. Tony lay
awake some time, thinking of his strange adventure.
"It's the first time in my life," he said to himself, "when I've had two
beds—one here and the other at my lodgings. What would Rudolph
say if he knew I was stopping at a fashionable hotel, instead of
being at the bottom of the well, where he threw me?"

CHAPTER XXX.
BREAKFAST AT THE ST. NICHOLAS.
When Tony woke up in the morning he looked about him with
momentary bewilderment, wondering where he was.
George Spencer was already awake.
"How did you sleep, Tony?" he asked.
"First rate."
"It must be late. Please look at my watch and tell me what time it
is."
"Half-past eight," said Tony, complying with his request. "Why, it's
late."
"Not very. I didn't get up until ten yesterday. Well, what do you say
to getting up and having some breakfast?"
"Am I to breakfast with you, Mr. Spencer?"
"To be sure you are, unless you have another engagement," added
Spencer, jocosely.
"If I have it can wait," said Tony. "How much do they charge here
for board, Mr. Spencer?"
"Four or five dollars a day. I really don't know exactly how much."
"Four or five dollars a day!" exclaimed Tony, opening his eyes in
amazement. "How much I shall cost you!"
"I expect you will cost me a good deal, Tony," said the young man.
"Do you know, I have a great mind to adopt you!"

"Do you really mean it, Mr. Spencer?"
"Yes; why shouldn't I. I like what I have seen of you, and I have
plenty of money."
"It must be a nice thing to have plenty of money," said Tony,
thoughtfully.
"There is danger in it, too, Tony. I am ashamed to tell you how much
I have spent in gambling and dissipation."
"I wouldn't do it, Mr. Spencer," said Tony, soberly.
"Capital advice, Tony. I am going to keep you with me for fear I
might forget, that is, if you think you will like me well enough to
stay."
"I am sure to like you, Mr. Spencer, but you may get tired of me."
"I'll let you know when I do, Tony. How much income do you think I
have?"
"A thousand dollars!" guessed Tony, who considered that this would
be a very large income.
Spencer laughed.
"It is over ten thousand," he said.
"Ten thousand!" exclaimed Tony. "How can you spend it all?"
"I did spend it all, last year, Tony, and got a thousand dollars in debt.
I gambled, and most of it went that way. But I'll leave that off. I
shall have you to take up my time, now."
"Did you know that man you played billiards with last night, Mr.
Spencer?"
"I made his acquaintance in a gambling house, and I was well
punished for keeping company with such a man."

Tony was now nearly dressed.
"You didn't get your clothing from a fashionable tailor, I should
judge," said his new guardian.
"No," said Tony, "I haven't been to fashionable tailors much."
"After breakfast I must go with you and see you properly clothed. If
you are to be my ward, I must have your appearance do me credit."
"How very kind you are to me, Mr. Spencer," said Tony, gratefully. "I
don't know how to repay you."
"You've done something in that way already."
"It seems like a dream that a poor boy like me should be adopted by
a rich gentleman."
"It is a dream you won't wake up from very soon. Now if you are
ready we will go down to breakfast."
Tony hung back.
"Won't you be ashamed to have me seen with you in these clothes?"
he asked.
"Not a bit. Besides you will soon be in better trim. Come along,
Tony."
They went down together, and entered the breakfast room. A
considerable number of persons were there. Several stared in
surprise at Tony as he entered and took his seat. Our hero noticed it,
and it made him nervous.
"Do you see how they look at me?" he said.
"Don't let it affect your appetite, Tony," said his friend. "When you
appear among them again you will have no reason to feel ashamed."
A speech which Tony heard from a neighboring table did not serve to
reassure him.

An over-dressed lady of fifty said to a tall, angular young lady, her
daughter:
"Elvira, do you see that very common-looking boy at the next table?"
"Yes, ma."
"He looks low. He is not as well dressed as our servants. It is very
strange they should let him eat at an aristocratic hotel like this."
"Isn't he with that gentleman, ma?"
"It looks like it. He maybe the gentleman's servant. I really think it
an imposition to bring him here."
Mr. Spencer smiled.
"Don't mind it, Tony," he said. "I know those people by sight. They
are parvenus. I suppose you don't understand the word. They are
vulgar people who have become rich by a lucky speculation. They
will change their tune presently. What will you have for breakfast?"
"There's such a lot of things," said Tony, "I don't know what to
choose."
"You'll get used to that. I'll order breakfast for both."
The waiter appeared, and Mr. Spencer gave the order.
The waiter looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Spencer," he said, "it's against the rules for you to bring your
servant to the table with you."
"I have not done so," said Mr. Spencer, promptly. "This young
gentleman is my ward."
"Oh, excuse me," said the waiter, confused.
"Has any one prompted you to speak to me about him?"
"Those ladies at the next table."

"Then those ladies owe an apology to my ward," said the young
man, loud enough for the ladies to hear.
The shot told. The ladies looked confused and embarrassed, and
Tony and his guardian quietly finished their breakfast.
There was another lady who noticed Tony, and this was Mrs. Harvey
Middleton. She was to sail for England in the afternoon.
As Tony and Mr. Spencer were going out of the breakfast-room, they
met her entering.
She started at the sight of Tony, and scanned his face eagerly.
"Who are you, boy?" she asked, quickly, laying her hand on his arm.
Tony was too surprised to answer, and Mr. Spencer answered for
him.
"It is my ward, madame," he answered. "He has been roughing it in
the country, which accounts for the state of his wardrobe."
"O, I beg pardon, sir," said Mrs. Middleton. "I thought his face looked
familiar."
"You see, Tony, that your appearance attracts attention," said Mr.
Spencer, laughing. "Now we'll go out, and I'll get you a fit-out."
They went to a well-known clothier's, and Mr. Spencer purchased
two handsome suits for our hero, one of which he put on at once. At
another place a plentiful supply of under-clothing was purchased.
Next a hat and shoes were procured. Tony's hair was cut, he took a
bath, and in a couple of hours he was transformed into a young
gentleman of distinguished appearance.
"Really, Tony, I shouldn't have known you," said his friend.
"I shouldn't have known myself," said Tony. "I almost think it must
be some other boy. Who'd think I was Tony, the Tramp, now?"

"You are not to be a tramp any longer. I have not yet formed my
plans for you, but I shall soon. I suppose, Tony, your education has
been neglected."
"I should think it had," answered Tony. "I'm as ignorant as a horse."
"Then you ought to learn something."
"I wish I could."
"You shall, but, as I said, I must arrange details later."
* * * * * * *
About this time Rudolph and Mrs. Middleton were conversing,
preparatory to starting for the steamer.
"You are sure the boy is dead?" she said.
"Sure? I ought to be. Didn't I see him dead with my own eyes?"
"I saw a boy this morning who looked as I suppose the boy would
have looked—of the same age, too."
"Where did you see him?"
"He was with a gentleman, coming out of the breakfast-room as I
was entering it."
"It couldn't have been he," said Rudolph, positively. "Even if he were
alive, he wouldn't be here. But he's dead, I tell you. There's no
doubt of it."
"There are strange resemblances," said the lady. "But, of course, it
couldn't have been the boy. Indeed, the gentleman with him told me
that it was his ward."
Rudolph laughed.
"Tony wasn't likely to have a gentleman for a guardian," he said.

But Rudolph would have felt less easy in his mind if he had known
that the boy whom he supposed dead at the bottom of a well was
really in the hotel at that very moment.

CHAPTER XXXI.
TONY AND HIS GUARDIAN SET UP
HOUSEKEEPING.
"Now, Tony," said George Spencer, after dinner, "I want to tell you
what plans I have formed for you and myself. I have got tired of
hotel life, and want a home. I shall seek a couple of handsomely-
furnished rooms up town, make it social and pleasant with books
and pictures, and we will settle down and enjoy ourselves."
"I am afraid you will get tired of me, Mr. Spencer," said Tony,
modestly. "I am too ignorant to be much company for you."
"Ignorance, like poverty, can be remedied," said the young man. "I
shall obtain a private tutor for you, and expect you to spend some
hours daily in learning." Tony's face brightened up.
"That is just what I would like," he said.
"You would like it better than going to school?"
"Yes, for at school I should be obliged to go into a class with much
younger boys."
"While with a tutor you can go on as fast as you please."
"Yes, sir."
"To-night we both need a little recreation. Suppose we go to some
place of amusement. Have you ever been to Barnum's?"
"Yes, sir, but I didn't take a reserved seat."
"I suppose not."
"I sat in the upper gallery."

"To-night you shall be fashionable. Have you a pair of kid gloves?"
"The last pair I had is worn out," said Tony, laughing.
"Then you must have another pair. We will get a pair on our way
there."
It was already time to start.
At eight o'clock Tony found himself occupying an orchestra chair
near the stage, his hands encased in a pair of gloves of faultless fit,
and looking enough like a young patrician to pass muster among his
fashionable neighbors.
"How does it seem, Tony?" asked Spencer, smiling.
"Tip-top," answered Tony: "but how queer kid gloves feel. I never
had a pair on in my life before."
"There are the two ladies who found fault with your appearance at
the breakfast table this morning."
"They are looking at me through an opera-glass."
"Wondering if you can be the same boy. I have no doubt they are
puzzled to account for your transformation."
Mr. Spencer was right. The two ladies were at the same moment
exchanging remarks about our hero.
"Goodness, Elvira! there is that boy that was at breakfast this
morning at the hotel."
"The boy that was so shabbily dressed, mamma? Where?"
"Just to the left. He isn't shabby now. See how he is decked out.
Who would have thought it?"
"It's queer, isn't it?"

"I think we must have been mistaken about him. He looks like a
young gentleman now. But why should he have worn such clothes
before?"
"I can't tell, I am sure."
"That's a nice-looking young man, Elvira. I wish he would take a
fancy to you."
"La! mamma, how you talk," said Elvira, bridling and smiling.
"Depend upon it, Tony, those ladies will be polite to you if they get a
chance," said Spencer, laughing.
"It makes a great deal of difference how a boy is dressed," said
Tony.
"You are right, Tony. Remember you are fashionable now."
"There's a gentleman in front that I know," said Tony, suddenly.
"Where."
"The man with a partly bald head."
"How do you know him?"
"He was staying two or three days at the country hotel where I was
stable boy."
"Do you think he would know you now?"
"May I see?"
"Yes, but don't let him find you out. It won't do in society to let it be
known that you were ever a stable-boy."
"All right."
Tony leaned over, and addressing the gentleman, said:

"Would you be kind enough to lend me your programme a minute,
sir?"
"Certainly," was the reply. Then, looking at Tony: "Your face looks
very familiar. Where have I seen you before?"
"Perhaps at the St. Nicholas, sir," said Tony; "I am stopping there."
"No; I never go to the St. Nicholas. Bless me! You're the very image
of a boy I have seen somewhere."
"Am I?" said Tony. "I hope he was good-looking?"
"He was; but he was not dressed like you. In fact—I remember now
—he was employed as stable-boy in a country hotel."
"A stable boy!" exclaimed Tony, with comic horror. "I hope you don't
think I am the boy."
"Of course not. But really the resemblance is striking."
"Mr. Spencer," said Tony, "this gentleman has met a stable boy who
looks like me."
"I really beg your pardon," said the gentleman; "I meant no
offense."
"My ward would not think of taking offense," said Mr. Spencer,
courteously.
Tony smiled to himself; he had a strong sense of humor, and was
much amused.
It is needless to say that he enjoyed the performance—all the more
so from his luxurious seat and nearness to the stage.
"It's a good deal better than sitting in the gallery," he said, in a
whisper to his companion.
"I should think so. I never sat up there, Tony."

"And I never sat anywhere else."
As they were leaving the house, they found themselves close to the
ladies whom they had noticed at breakfast.
Elvira chanced to drop her handkerchief, probably intentionally.
Tony stooped and picked it up. Though he had led the life of a
tramp, he had the instincts of a gentleman.
"Thank you, young gentleman," said Elvira. "You are very polite."
"Oh, don't mention it," said Tony.
"Really, Mamma, he is a born gentleman," said Elvira, later, to her
mother. "How could we make such a mistake."
"His clothes were certainly very shabby, my dear."
"Very likely he had been out hunting or something. We must not
judge so hastily next time."
The ladies were foiled in their intentions of cultivating the
acquaintance of Tony and his guardian, as two days later they left
the hotel, and installed themselves in an elegant boarding-house on
Madison avenue.
"Now," said Mr. Spencer, "we must go to work."
"I must," said Tony.
"And I too," said Spencer.
"What can you have to do?"
"I have received a proposal to invest a part of my money—only one-
fourth—in a business down town, and shall accept. I don't need to
increase my income, but I think I shall be less likely to yield to
temptation if I have some fixed employment. I shall be so situated
that I can do as much or as little as I please. As to yourself I have

put an advertisement in a morning paper for a teacher, and expect
some applicants this morning. I want you to choose for yourself."
"I am afraid I shan't be a very good judge of teachers. Shall I
examine them to see if they know enough?"
"I think, from what you say of your ignorance, that any of them will
know enough to teach you for the present. The main thing is to
select one who knows how to teach, and whom you will like."
"I wish you were a teacher, Mr. Spencer."
"Why?"
"Because then I should have a teacher whom I liked."
"Thank you, Tony," said the young man, evidently gratified. "The
liking is mutual. I think myself fortunate in having you for my
companion."
"The luck is on my side, Mr. Spencer. What would I be but for you. I
wouldn't be a tramp any more, for I am tired enough of that, but I
should have to earn my living as a newsboy or a bootblack, and
have no chance of getting an education."
So the relations between Tony and his new friend became daily more
close, until Mr. Spencer came to regard him as a young brother, in
whose progress he was warmly interested.
A tutor was selected, and Tony began to study. His ambition was
roused. He realized for the first time how ignorant he was, and it is
not too much to say that he learned in one month as much as most
boys learn in three. He got rid of the uncouth words he had acquired
in early life, and adapted his manners to the new position which he
found himself occupying in society. Mr. Spencer, too, was benefited
by his new friend. He gave up drink and dissipation, and contented
himself with pleasures in which he could invite Tony to participate.

Meanwhile Mrs. Harvey Middleton and Rudolph had arrived in
England, and we must leave our hero, for a time and join them.

CHAPTER XXXII.
HOME AGAIN.
When Mrs. Harvey Middleton reached England, she delayed but a
day in London to attend to necessary business. This business was
solely connected with her mission to America. Rudolph Rugg
accompanied her to the chambers of a well-known lawyer, and
testified to having had the charge of Tony, closing with the
description of his death. Of course nothing was said of the well, or
about his having thrown him in, for Rudolph was not a fool. The
details of a probable story had been got up by Mrs. Middleton and
Rugg in concert. According to them and the written testimony, Tony
had been run over by a train on the Erie railway, and a newspaper
paragraph describing such an accident to an unknown boy was
produced in corroboration.
It was an ingenious fabrication, and Mrs. Middleton plumed herself
upon it.
"Poor boy!" she said, with a hypocritical sigh, "his was a sad fate."
"It was, indeed," said the lawyer; "but," he added, dryly, "you have
no cause to regret it, since it secures the estate."
"Don't mention it, Mr. Brief. It is sad to profit by such a tragedy."
"You don't take a business view of it, madame. Such things happen,
and if we can't prevent them, we may as well profit by them."
"Of course I will not refuse what has fallen in my way," said Mrs.
Middleton; "but I had formed the plan, if I found the boy alive, of
bringing him home and educating him for his position. He would not
have let me want."

"Don't she do it well, though?" thought Rudolph, who heard all this
with a cynical admiration for the ex-governess. "If I was a
gentleman, I'd make up to her, and make her Mrs. Rugg if she'd say
the word."
"You think this man's evidence will substantiate my claim to the
estate?" she asked, after a pause.
"I should say there was no doubt on that point, unless, of course,
his evidence is impeached or contradicted."
"That is hardly likely, Mr. Brief. The poor man suffered much at the
death of the boy, to whom he was ardently attached."
"So you loved the boy, Mr. Rugg?" said the lawyer.
"Oh, uncommon," said Rudolph. "He was my pet, and the apple of
my eye. We was always together, Tony and I."
"And I suppose he loved you."
"He couldn't bear me out of his sight; he looked upon me as a
father, sir."
"If he'd come into the estate, he would probably have provided for
you," suggested the lawyer, watching him keenly.
"It's likely, sir. I wish he had."
"So it's a personal loss to you—the death of the boy."
"Yes, sir."
"Mrs. Middleton probably will not forget your services to the boy."
"No, sir. I shall, of course, do something for Mr. Rugg, though not as
much, perhaps, as my poor cousin would have done. Mr. Rugg, will
you see me to my carriage?"
"Certainly, ma'am."

Mrs. Middleton was anxious to go away. The conversation had taken
a turn which she did not like. It almost seemed as if the lawyer was
trying to find out something, and she thought it best to get Rudolph
away from the influence, lest Mr. Brief should catechise him, and
draw out something to her disadvantage.
"Mr. Rugg," she said, as they were going down stairs, "I advise you
not to go near Mr. Brief again."
"Why not, ma'am?"
"These lawyers are crafty. Before you knew what he was after, he
would extract the secret from you, and there would be trouble for
both of us."
"Do you think so, ma'am? I didn't see nothing of it?"
"I think he suspects something. That matters nothing if it does not
go beyond suspicion. Unless he can impeach your testimony and
draw you into contradictions, we are safe, and you are sure of an
income for life."
"You needn't be afraid for me, ma'am. We are in the same boat."
She frowned a little at the familiar tone in which he spoke. It was as
if he put himself on an equality with her. But it was true,
nevertheless, and it was unpleasant for her to think of.
Was there nothing else that was unpleasant? Did she not think of
the poor boy who, as she thought, was killed, and at her instigation?
Yes, she thought often of him, but as much as she could she kept
the subject away from her thoughts.
"He's better off," she said to herself. "He didn't know anything of the
property, and he wasn't fit to possess it. All the troubles of life are
over for him."
"What are your plans, Mr. Rugg?" she asked.

"I have a mind to go down to Middleton Hall with you, ma'am. I
used to live there years ago, and I might find some of my old
cronies."
"For that very reason you must not go," she said, hastily. "They
would be asking you all sorts of questions, and you'd be letting out
something."
"They wouldn't get nothing out of me."
"If you made no answer it would be as bad. They would suspect
you."
"And you, too."
"Precisely."
"It's rather hard, Mrs. Middleton, I can't see my old friends."
"You can make new ones. A man with money can always find
friends."
"That's true, ma'am," said Rudolph, brightening up. "Then you'd
recommend me to stay in London?"
"In London, or anywhere else that you like better. Only don't come
within twenty miles of Middleton Hall."
"Well, ma'am, you're wiser than I am, and you know better what it's
best to do."
"Of course I do. You are safe in being guided by me."
"But about the money, ma'am. How am I to get that if I don't see
you?"
"Once a quarter I will pay in forty pounds to your account at any
bank you choose. You can let me know."
"All right, ma'am. It's strange to me to think of having a bank
account."

"It need not be strange henceforth. And now, Mr. Rugg, we must
part. I must hasten down to Middleton Hall to look after the estate. I
have been absent from it now for nearly three months."
"I suppose you are in a hurry to see your young man," said Rudolph,
with a grin.
"Mr. Rugg," said the lady, haughtily, "I beg you will make no
reference to my private affairs. You speak as if I were a nursery
maid."
"I beg your pardon, ma'am. No offense was meant."
"Then none is taken. But remember my caution."
She stepped into the hansom which was waiting for her, and
Rudolph remained standing on the sidewalk.
"She's puttin' on airs," said the tramp, frowning. "She forgets all
about her bein' a governess once, without five pounds in the world.
She acts as if she were a lady born. I don't like it. She may try her
airs on others, but not on Rudolph Rugg. He knows a little too much
about Mrs. Harvey Middleton. Rich as you are, you're in his power,
and if he was so inclined he could bring you down from your high
place, so he could."
But Rudolph's anger was only transient. He was too astute not to
understand clearly that he could not harm Mrs. Middleton without
harming himself quite as much. As things stood, he was securely
provided for. No more tramping about the country for him in all
weathers. He had enough to lodge and feed him, and provide all the
beer and tobacco he could use. This was certainly a comfortable
reflection. So he sought out a comfortable lodging and installed
himself before night, determined to get what enjoyment he could
out of London and the income he had so foully won.
And Mrs. Middleton, she, too, congratulated herself.

She leaned back in the cab and gave herself up to joyful
anticipations of future happiness and security.
"Thank Heaven, I have got rid of that low fellow," she ejaculated,
inwardly. "I never want to see the brute again. He was necessary to
my purpose, and I employed him, but I should be glad if he would
get drowned, or be run over, or end his miserable life in some way,
so that I might never see or hear of him again."
But the thought of Rudolph did not long trouble her. She thought
rather of the handsome Captain Lovell, whom she loved, and to
marry whom she had committed this crime, and the hard woman's
face softened, and a smile crept over it.
"I shall soon see him, my Gregory," she murmured. "He will soon be
mine, and I shall be repaid for my long, wearisome journey."

CHAPTER XXXIII.
CAPTAIN GREGORY LOVELL.
A carriage drove rapidly up the avenue leading to Middleton Hall.
The hall was not large, but was handsome and well proportioned,
and looked singularly attractive, its gray walls forming a harmonious
contrast with the bright green ivy that partially covered them, and
the broad, smooth lawn that stretched out in front.
Mrs. Middleton regarded her home with unmingled satisfaction. It
was to be her home now as long as she lived. Now that the boy was
dead no one could wrest it from her. She would live there, but not in
solitary grandeur. The news of her success would bring Captain
Gregory Lovell to her side, and their marriage would follow as soon
as decency would permit. If afterward he should desire to have the
name of the residence changed to Lovell Hall, Mrs. Middleton
decided that she would not object. Why should she? She had no
superstitious love for her present name, while Lovell had for her the
charm which love always gives to the name of the loved one.
The housekeeper, stout and matronly, received her mistress at the
door.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Middleton," she said; "how long it seems since
you went away."
"How do you do, Sarah," said her mistress, graciously. "I can assure
you I am glad to be back."
"You will find everything in order, mum, I hope and believe," said
Sarah. "We expected to see you sooner."

"I hoped to be back sooner, but the business detained me longer
than I desired."
"And did you succeed, mum, if I may be so bold," inquired the
housekeeper, curiously.
"As I expected, Sarah. I found that the poor boy was dead."
"Indeed, mum."
"I hoped to bring him back with me, according to my poor husband's
desire, but it was ordered otherwise by an inscrutable Providence."
Sarah coughed.
"It is very sad," she said, but she looked curiously at her mistress.
She knew very well that this sad news rejoiced the heart of Mrs.
Middleton, and the latter knew that she could not for a moment
impose upon her clear-sighted housekeeper. But the farce must be
kept up for the sake of appearances.
"Come up to my chamber with me, Sarah. I want to ask you what
has been going on since I went away? Have you heard from Lady
Lovell's family? Are they all well?"
Lady Lovell was the mother of Captain Gregory Lovell, and the
question was earnestly put.
"They are all well except the captain," answered Sarah.
"Is he sick?" demanded her mistress, turning upon her swiftly.
"No, mum; I only meant to say that the captain was gone away."
"Gone away! When? Where?"
"He's ordered to India, I believe, mum. He went away a month ago."
Mrs. Middleton sank into her chair, quite overcome. Her joy was
clouded, for the reward of her long and toilsome journey was

snatched from her.
"Did he not leave any message?" she asked. "Did he not call before
he went away?"
"Yes, mum. He left a note."
"Give it to me quick. Why did you not mention it to me before?"
"It's the first chance I got, mum. The letter is in my own chamber. I
took the best care of it. I will get it directly."
"Do go, Sarah."
Mrs. Middleton awaited the return of Sarah with nervous impatience.
Perhaps the captain had thrown her over, after all, and, loving him
as she did, this would have torn the heart of the intriguing woman,
who, cold and selfish as she was so far as others were concerned,
really loved the handsome captain.
Sarah speedily reappeared with the letter.
"Here it is, mum," she said. "I have taken the best care of it."
Mrs. Middleton tore it open with nervous haste This is the way it ran:
"My Dear Jane—I am about to set out for India—not willingly, but
my regiment is ordered there, and I must obey or quit the
service. This, as you well know, I cannot do; for apart from my
official pay, I have but a paltry two hundred pounds a year, and
that is barely enough to pay my tailor's bill. I am sorry to go
away in your absence. If I were only sure you would bring home
good news, I could afford to sell my commission and wait. But it
is so uncertain that I cannot take the risk.
"I need not say, my dear Jane, how anxious I am to have all the
impediments to our union removed. I am compelled to be
mercenary. It is, alas! necessary for me, as a younger son, to
marry a woman with money. I shall be happy, indeed, if interest

and love go hand in hand, as they will if your absolute claim to
your late husband's estate is proved beyond a doubt. I append
my India address, and shall anxiously expect a communication
from you on your return. If you have been successful, I will
arrange to return at once, and our union can be solemnized
without delay. Once more, farewell.
"Your devoted
"Gregory Lovell."
Mrs. Middleton, after reading this letter, breathed a sigh of relief. He
was still hers, and she had only to call him back. There would be a
vexatious delay, but that must be submitted to. She had feared to
lose him, and this apprehension, at least, might be laid aside.
To some the letter would have seemed too mercenary. Even Mrs.
Middleton could not help suspecting that, between love and interest,
the latter was far the most powerful in the mind of Captain Lovell.
But she purposely closed her eyes to this unpleasant suspicion. She
was in love with the handsome captain, and it was the great object
of her life to become his wife. She decided to answer the letter
immediately.
Her desk was at hand, and she opened it at once, and wrote a brief
letter to her absent lover:
"Dear Gregory—I have just returned. I am deeply disappointed
to find you absent, for, my darling, I have succeeded. I have
legal proof—proof that cannot be disputed—that the boy, my
husband's cousin, is dead. The poor boy was accidentally killed.
I have the sworn affidavit of the man who took him to America,
and who was his constant companion there.
"It is a sad fate for the poor boy. I sincerely deplore his tragical
end—he was run over by a train of cars—yet (is it wicked?), my
grief is mitigated by the thought that it removes all obstacle to
our union. I do not for an instant charge you with interested

motives. I am sure of your love, but I also comprehend the
necessities of your position. You have been brought up as a
gentleman, and you have the tastes of a gentleman. You cannot
surrender your social position. It is necessary that, if you marry,
you should have an adequate income to live upon. My darling
Gregory, I am proud and happy in the thought that I can make
you such. You know my estate. The rental is two thousand
pounds, and that is enough to maintain our social rank. Come
home, then, as soon, as you receive this letter. I am awaiting
you impatiently, and can hardly reconcile myself to the delay
that must be. Make it as short as possible, and let me hear from
you at once.
"Your own,
"Jane Middleton."
There was unexpected delay in the reception of this letter. It was
three months before it came into the hands of Captain Lovell. When
at length it was received, he read it with a mixture of emotions.
"Decidedly," he said, removing the cigar from his mouth, "the old girl
is fond of me. I wish I were fond of her, for I suppose I must marry
her. It will be rather a bad pill to swallow, but it is well gilded. Two
thousand pounds a year are not to be thrown away by a fellow in my
straits. The prospect might be brighter, but I suppose I have no right
to complain. It will make me comfortable for life. I must take care to
have the estate settled upon me, and then the sooner the old girl
dies the better."
So Captain Lovell wrote at once, saying that he would return home
as soon as he could make arrangements for doing so—that every
day would seem a month till he could once more embrace his dear
Jane. The letter was signed, "Your devoted Gregory."
Mrs. Middleton read it with unfeigned delight. Her plans had
succeeded, and the reward would soon be hers.

But there was fresh delay. Arrangements to return could not be
made so easily as Captain Lovell anticipated. It was seven months
from the day Mrs. Middleton reached England when Captain Lovell
was driven to his hotel in London. Meanwhile events had occurred
which were to have an effect upon Mrs. Middleton's plans.

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