a remarkable coincidence that Daniel Webster, and
many other famous men, have manifested a decided passion for this
exciting sport. No doubt a fondness for angling is a peculiarity of
genius; and if being an expert fisherman makes a great man, then our
hero was a great man.

He had scarcely seated himself on his favorite rock, and dropped his
line into the water, before he saw Tom Spicer approaching the spot.
The bully had never been a welcome companion. There was no sympathy
between them. They could never agree, for their views, opinions, and
tastes were always conflicting.

Bobby had not seen Tom since he left him to crawl out of the ditch on
the preceding week, and he had good reason to believe that he should
not be regarded with much favor. Tom was malicious and revengeful, and
our hero was satisfied that the blow which had prostrated him in the
ditch would not be forgotten till it had been atoned for. He was
prepared, therefore, for any disagreeable scene which might occur.

There was another circumstance also which rendered the bully's presence
decidedly unpleasant at this time--an event that had occurred during
his absence, the particulars of which he had received from his mother.

Tom's father, who was a poor man, and addicted to intemperance, had
lost ten dollars. He had brought it home, and, as he affirmed, placed
it in one of the bureau drawers. The next day it could not be found.

Spicer, for some reason, was satisfied that Tom had taken it; but the
boy stoutly and persistently denied it. No money was found upon him,
however, and it did not appear that he had spent any at the stores in
Riverdale Centre.

The affair created some excitement in the vicinity, for Spicer made no
secret of his suspicions, and publicly accused Tom of the theft. He
did not get much sympathy from any except his pot companions; for there
was no evidence but his bare and unsupported statement to substantiate
the grave accusation. Tom had been in the room when the money was
placed in the drawer, and, as his father asserted, had watched him
closely while he deposited the bills under the clothing. No one else
could have taken it. These were the proofs. But people generally
believed that Spicer had carried no money home, especially as it was
known that he was intoxicated on the night in question; and that the
alleged theft was only a ruse to satisfy certain importunate creditors.

Every body knew that Tom was bad enough