ou had better take out a book?"

"I guess I will come next week," said Sam, hesitating.

"You have no idea how independent it makes me feel," said Henry. "Now,
if I am sick I know I shan't have to suffer, for a time at least. I
could live for seven or eight weeks on what I've got here in the
bank."

"That's so. I wish I had thirty-five dollars."

"You may have it after a while if you'll do as I do--be economical and
saving."

"I'll think about it," said Sam. "I'd like to have something to fall
back upon in my old age."

Henry commended this plan, though he knew Sam too well to have much
hope of his carrying it out. As it turned out, not a dollar of the
reward which he had been paid found its way to the savings-bank. How
it was disposed of we shall see.

The next day, as Sam was going to the office, he met a young man with
whom he had lately become acquainted.

"How are you, Sam?" he asked.

"Tiptop," answered Sam.

"How does the world use you?"

"Pretty well. I've just made some money."

"How much?"

"Twenty-five dollars."

"That isn't bad. How did you do it?"

"I found a diamond ring in Wall Street, and got the money for a
reward."

"Have you got it now?"

"Most of it."

"What are you going to do with it?"

"Henry Martin advises me to put it in the savings-bank."

"Who is Henry Martin?"

"He is a boy that rooms with me."

"Take my advice, and don't do it."

"Why not? Would the bank break?"

"I don't know as it would; but what good would it do?"

"They give you interest, don't they?"

"Yes, but it's only six per cent. The interest on twenty-five dollars
would only come to a dollar and a half in a year. That's too slow for
me."

"What would you advise me to do, then?" asked Sam. "Is there any way
of making money?"

"I'll tell you what I'd do if I were you. I'd buy part of a ticket in
the Havana lottery."

"Could I make money that way?"

"Say you bought a fifth of a ticket; that would come to ten dollars.
Now the biggest prize is a hundred thousand dollars!"

It almost took away Sam's breath to think of such a large sum.

"I couldn't draw that, could I?" he asked, eagerly.

"You might draw a fifth of it; that would be twenty thousand
dollars."

"Why, that would make me rich!" exclaimed Sam, in excitement. "I'd
never have to work no more."

"Besides, there are other prizes a great many, only smaller."

"I'd be pretty sure to draw something, wouldn't I?"

"You'd stand ju