ne else saw it. I rode
that way on horse-back this morning. I told Mrs. Hudson that my pocket
needed repairing, but she put it off, according to her usual custom. If
it had not been found, I would have kept her on short allowance for a
year to come."

Tom felt rather embarrassed, for, of course, it would not do to join in
with the squire in his complaints of his wife. Suddenly Squire Hudson
said, eying him keenly: "Do you know how much money there is in this
wallet?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you counted it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why did you do it?"

"I wanted to know how much there was, so that no one might blame me if
any were missing."

"Didn't you want to take any?" asked the squire bluntly.

"Yes," answered Tom promptly.

"Why didn't you? For fear you would be found out?"

"That may have had something to do with it, but it was principally
because it would have been stealing and stealing is wrong."

"What would you have done with the money if you had taken it?"

"Started for California next week," answered Tom directly.

"Eh?" ejaculated the squire, rather astonished. "Why do you want to go
to California--a boy like you?"

"To dig gold. I suppose a boy can dig gold, as well as a man. There
doesn't seem to be much chance for me here. There's nothing to do but to
work on the farm, and father and Walter can do all there is to be done
there."

"How is your father getting along?" asked the rich man, with an interest
which rather surprised Tom.

"Poorly," said Tom. "He makes both ends meet; but we all have to do
without a great many things that we need."

The squire looked thoughtful. He took half a dollar from his wallet and
tendered it to Tom.

"You've done me a service," he said. "Take that."

Tom drew back.

"I would rather not take money for being honest," he said.

"That's all nonsense," said Squire Hudson sharply.

"That's the way I feel about it," said Tom stoutly.

"Then you're a fool."

"I hope not, sir."

"This would have been quite a large loss to me. I am perfectly willing
to give you this money."

Then Tom gathered courage and said boldly, "You can do me a great favor,
Squire Hudson, if you choose."

"What is it?"

"Lend me enough money to go to California," said Tom nervously.

"Good gracious! Is the boy crazy?" ejaculated the astonished squire.

"No, sir, I am not crazy. I'll tell you what my plans are. I shall go to
work directly I get there, and shall devote the first money