n it.

He was sorely puzzled to know how a poor boy like Robert could have so
much money in his possession and put one or two questions, which our
hero evaded.

"The tea and flour came to a dollar and a quarter," said the shrewd
trader, "and that leaves a dollar and a quarter to come to you."

He tendered Robert a one-dollar bill and twenty-five cents.

After Robert went home Mr. Sands searched his brain in trying to guess
where he could have obtained his gold, but the more he thought the
darker and more mysterious it seemed. While in this state of perplexity
John Trafton entered the store.

He had seen Robert going out with two large parcels, and he came in to
learn what he could about them.

"How d'ye do, Sands?" he said. "Has Bob been in here?"

"Yes."

"Did he buy anything?"

"Two pounds of tea and half a dozen pounds of flour. Seems to have
considerable money."

"Does he?" inquired Trafton eagerly.

"I thought you knew. Why, he paid me in gold!"

"In gold?" ejaculated Trafton.

"To be sure! He give me a two-and-a-half gold piece, and that wasn't
all. He dropped a ten-dollar gold piece by accident, but picked it right
up."

"You don't mean it?" said the fisherman, astounded.

"Yes, I do. But I s'posed you knew all about it."

"I only know what you've told me. The fact is that boy hasn't a spark of
gratitude. It seems he's rolling in wealth and leaves me to get along as
I can."

"Nephews ain't generally expected to provide for their uncles," said
Abner Sands dryly.

But John Trafton did not hear him. As he left the store an idea entered
his mind. He knew that Robert had found a friend in the hermit, and he
decided that the gold came from him.

If that was the case, the hermit must be rich. Who knows but he might
have thousands of dollars in the cave? The fisherman's eyes sparkled
with greed and he was assailed by a powerful temptation. His credit at
the tavern was about exhausted. What a pity he could not get some of the
gold, which appeared to do its possessor so little good!

CHAPTER XVII

JOHN TRAFTON'S NEW PLAN

With the new but unlawful purpose which he had begun to entertain John
Trafton resolved to find out all he could about the hermit, and he
rightly judged that Robert could give him more information than anybody
else.

He decided to go home early and question his nephew cautiously. If he
could find out something about the hermit's habits and peculiarities it
would help h