stay, and take me to Tony Pastor's to-night."

Sam shook his head.

"Oh, yes, you'd like me to spend all my money on you; but I don't see
it."

"You needn't be so afraid. I've got some money, too," said Tim,
nettled.

"You've got fifty cents, I s'pose."

"Does that look like fifty cents?"

Tim displayed the ten dollars he had received from Mr. Dalton for
restoring the lost check.

Sam was astonished beyond measure.

"Where did you get that money?" he asked.

"It's some I had over when I failed,"

"And with all that money in your pocket you asked me for five
dollars!" exclaimed Sam, with justifiable indignation.

"Why shouldn't I? Haven't you got more than I have?"

Tim began to see that he had made a mistake in proclaiming his riches;
especially when Sam added that he might buy his own dinner--that he
wasn't going to treat him.

"You promised you would," said Tim.

"I didn't know you had so much money. I thought you was hard up.
You're a fraud."

"So are you," said Tim, resentfully.

"I don't want no more to do with you."

Tim was nettled. He wanted to be revenged, and his secret slipped
out.

"You needn't feel so big," he said. "I got you 'bounced.'"

Here was much cause for astonishment.

"You got me 'bounced'?" repeated Sam, in surprise.

"Yes, I did. I found that check you dropped, and took it round to your
boss. He give me this ten dollars, and 'bounced' you."

This was too much for Sam's equanimity. That a boy who had so injured
him should try to wheedle money and a treat out of him struck him as
so atrocious, that he felt action to be imperative. A sudden movement
of the foot upset Tim; and Sam, without waiting to see how he relished
his downfall, fled round a corner before Tim could retaliate.

"He's the meanest boy I ever knew!" thought our retreating hero. "He
got me sacked, and then wanted me to treat him. I guess he won't ask
me again."

Sam was still determined to go to Boston that afternoon. Before he
went he wanted to say good-by to Henry Martin, and, as the boat would
sail before business hours was over, he decided to go round to the
store where he was employed.

Henry was just leaving the store on an errand when Sam came up. It was
the first time they had met since Henry's discovery of Sam's attempt
to appropriate his savings. He could hardly be expected to feel very
friendly toward him.

"I'll walk along with you, Henry," said Sam; "I want to talk with
you."

"And