“That’s a cur’us boy!” soliloquized Mr. Sands, looking after him. “I can’t get nothin’ out of him. Looks as if John Trafton must have turned over a new leaf to give him so much money to buy groceries. I hope he has. It’s better that I should get his money than the tavern keeper.” Mr. Sands did not have to wait long before his curiosity was partially gratified, for the very man of whom he was thinking just then entered the store. “Has my nephew been here?” he inquired. “Just went out.” “I thought you might be willing to let him have what little he wanted on credit. I’ll see that it’s paid for.” “Why, he paid for the goods himself--fifty-eight cents.” _“What!”_ exclaimed the fisherman, astonished. “He bought a pound of tea, at fifty cents, and a pound of sugar, at eight cents, and paid for ’em.” “Where’d he get the money?” asked Trafton. “I am sure I don’t know. I supposed you gave it to him. He’s got more left. He paid for the articles with a two-dollar bill and he’s got a dollar and forty-two cents left!” “The young hypocrite!” ejaculated John Trafton indignantly. “All the while he had this money he was worryin’ me for a quarter to buy some tea and a loaf of bread.” “Looks rather mysterious--doesn’t it?” said the grocer. “Mr. Sands,” said the fisherman, “I’ve took care of that boy ever since he was three year old, and that’s the way he treats me. He’s a young viper!” “Jes so!” said Mr. Sands, who was a politic man and seldom contradicted his neighbors. “The rest of that money belongs to me by rights,” continued the fisherman, “and he’s got to give it to me. How much did you say it was?” “A dollar and forty-two cents, John; but, seems to me, you’d better let him keep it to buy groceries with.” “I must have the money!” muttered Trafton, not heeding this advice, which was good, though selfish. “I guess I’ll go home and make the boy give it to me!” And he staggered out of the store, and, as well as he could, steered for home. CHAPTER V “GIVE ME THAT MONEY” From the village store Robert went to the baker’s and bought a loaf of bread for six cents, making his entire expenditures sixty-four cents. He was now ready to go home. He walked rapidly and soon reached the humble cabin, where he found his aunt waiting for him. She looked with surprise at the three bundles he brought in and asked: “What have you got there, Robert?” “First of all, here is a pound of tea,” said the boy, laying it down on the kitchen table. “Here is a pound of sugar and here is a loaf of bread.” “But I didn’t order all those, Robert,” said his aunt. “I know you didn’t,” answered her nephew, “but I thought you’d be able to make use of them.” “No doubt I shall, but surely you did not buy them all for twenty-five cents?” “I should say not. Why, the tea alone cost fifty cents! Then the sugar came to eight cents and the loaf cost six cents.” “Mrs. Jones didn’t pay you enough to buy all those, did she?”