farm, indeed! My
father ought to be ashamed to recommend such a thing to his only son,
when he's so well off. If he would only give me two hundred dollars, I
would go to California and trouble him no more. Plenty of people
make money in California, and why shouldn't I? If that ticket draws a
prize--"

And then Eben went into calculations of what he would do if only he drew
a prize of a thousand dollars. That wasn't too much to expect, for
there were several of that amount, and several considerably larger. He
pictured how independent he would be with his prize, and how he would
tell his father that he could get along without him, displaying at the
same time a large roll of bills. When he reached California he could buy
an interest in a mine, and perhaps within three or four years he could
return home twenty times as rich as his father. It was pleasant to think
over all this, and almost to persuade himself that the good luck had
actually come. However, he must wait a few days, for the ticket had not
yet come, and the lottery would not be drawn for a week.

The ticket arrived two days later; Eben took care to slip the envelope
into his pocket without letting his father or anyone else see it, for
unpleasant questions might have been asked as to where he got the money
that paid for it, Mr. Graham knowing very well that his son had not five
dollars by him.

For a few days Eben must remain in Wayneboro, until the lottery was
drawn. If he was unlucky, he would have to consider some other plan for
raising money to get away from Wayneboro.

It was not till the day after the trial and his triumphant acquittal,
that Herbert saw Eben. He came to the store to buy some groceries for
his mother.

"Good-evening, Herbert," said Eben.

"Eben," said Herbert, coldly, "except in the way of business, I don't
want to speak to you."

"You don't bear malice on account of that little affair, do you,
Herbert?" said Eben, smoothly.

"That little affair, as you call it, might have been a very serious
affair to me."

"I only did my duty," said Eben.

"Was it your duty to charge an innocent person with theft?"

"I didn't see who else could have taken the things," said Eben.

"Probably you know as well as anybody," said Herbert, contemptuously.

"What do you mean?" demanded Eben, coloring.

"You know better than I do. How much do I owe you?"

"Thirty-three cents."

"There is your money," said Herbert, and walked out of the store.