before the troublesome acquaintances
who were waiting for him to come down-stairs had any idea where he was
gone.

The professor ran at a steady, even pace, looking straight before him.
His eyes were fixed on the haven of his hopes, and he did not notice a
stone, of considerable size, which lay in his path. The result was that
he stumbled over it, and fell forward with considerable force. He rose,
jarred and sore, but there was no time to take account of his physical
damages. He must wait till he got on the train.

The force with which he was thrown forward was such that the wallet
was thrown from his pocket, and fell in the grass beside the path. The
professor went on his way, quite unconscious of his loss, but there were
other eyes that did not overlook it.

Sam, who was thirty rods behind, noticed Professor Riccabocca's fall,
and he likewise noticed the wallet when he reached the spot of the
catastrophe.

"My eyes!" he exclaimed, opening those organs wide in delight; "here's
luck! The old gentleman has dropped his pocketbook. Most likely it's
stolen. I'll carry it back and give it to Mr. Perry."

Sam very sensibly decided that it wasn't worth while to continue the
pursuit, now that the thief, as he supposed Riccabocca to be, had
dropped his booty.

Sam was led by curiosity to open the wallet. When he saw the thick roll
of bills, he was filled with amazement and delight.

"Oh, what a rascal he was!" ejaculated the boy. "I guess he's been
robbing a safe. I wonder how much is here?"

He was tempted to sit down on the grass and count the bills, but he was
prevented by the thought that the professor might discover his loss, and
returning upon his track, question him as to whether he had found it.
Sam determined that he wouldn't give it up, at any rate.

"I guess I could wrastle with him," he thought. "He looks rather
spindlin', but then he's bigger than I am, and he might lick me, after
all."

I desire to say emphatically that Sam was strictly honest, and never for
a moment thought of appropriating any of the money to his own use. He
felt that as a detective he had been successful, and this made him feel
proud and happy.

"I may as well go home," he said. "If he's stolen this money from Mr.
Perry, I'll come in for a reward."

Sam did not hurry, however. He was not now in pursuit of any one, and
could afford to loiter and recover his breath.

Meanwhile, Professor Riccabocca, in happy unconsciousness of hi