"O sir!" gasped Dick, when he had gone, "I'm 'fraid he'll do some mischief even now if he can. Supposing he should get my mother out of her work at the Manor House! We should starve! And—and our landlord's a hard man, he is!"
"Don't fear, my lad," returned the colonel reassuringly. "Squire Filmer will see that no injustice is done. But here," he added, "we are already at Farmer Smerdon's gate. You shall stay where you are, whilst I go in and interview the donor of the shilling. And if I return satisfied with what he tells me, I will at once hand you the ten shillings reward."
"Yes, sir, thank you. I'll wait here."
Nor had he long to wait, for Colonel Flamank returned to him a few minutes later with a smile of encouragement upon his face.
"Have you seen him, sir?" asked little Dick, scarcely able to suppress his anxiety.
"Yes, and I am ready to give you what I promised."
So saying, the colonel laid a half-sovereign in Dick Wilkins's hand. It was the first gold coin the child had ever touched.
[CHAPTER VI.]
HARD TIMES.
How proud Dick felt next day when he walked into the grocery establishment that was also the post-office, laid his half-sovereign on the counter, and said he had come to pay his dog-tax. Stranger was with him, and in such high spirits that he found it hard to believe the dog did not understand the nature of their errand.