favorable, the sky being overcast and the wind very
light. After digging a little box of worms in the garden back of the
house, he shouldered his fish pole; and certainly no one would have
suspected that he was a distinguished travelling merchant. He was fond
of fishing, and it is 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. B