It was about a week before Robert had occasion to use any of his gold. By that time he had spent the balance of the money given him by Mr. Lawrence Tudor and was forced to fall back upon his gold, having as yet received nothing from the hermit, who knew that he was not in immediate want of money. Abner Sands was standing behind the counter in his grocery when Robert entered. “What can I do for ye, Robert?” asked the trader. “You may give me two pounds of tea and six pounds of flour.” “I s’pose ye’ve got the money,” said Sands cautiously. “Of course I have.” “You’re doin’ well now, Robert, I take it?” said the trader. “Better than I used to,” answered Robert. He did not choose to make a confidant of Mr. Sands, who was a man of great curiosity and an inveterate gossip. When the goods were done up in separate parcels Robert took out the two-dollar-and-a-half gold piece and passed it to the grocer. “Why, I declare, it’s gold!” exclaimed Mr. Sands wonderingly. “Yes, it is gold.” “Of all things, I didn’t expect to get gold from you, Robert Coverdale. I reckon you’ve found a gold mine!” “Perhaps I have,” said Robert, smiling. As he put his hand in his pocket another gold piece dropped to the floor and he picked it up hastily, provoked at his carelessness, not, however, before the astonished trader had seen 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.