“Stole your money?” fairly gasped the stranger, in genuine concern. “Tell me about it, quick—before it is too late to act.”
In a somewhat disjointed way the other told how he had found the boys in the midst of a quarrel, and the part he had acted, to be robbed by the very one he had tried to succor.
“It was a sham fight—a dodge of those contemptible youngsters to throw you off your guard. And you were fool enough to let them get away with your money!” turning to leave the unfortunate man in apparent disgust.
“Don’t leave me here alone, mister! They didn’t get all my money, but my shirt, and——”
“Then you have some of your money left?” catching him by the arm with a grip which made the strong man wince. “How much did the rapscallions get?”
“Over thirty dollars.”
“How much have you left?”
“Ninety. But you are hurting my arm like time, mister, the way you hold on.”
“Excuse me, deacon; I was so excited over your loss that I forgot myself. But go on. You have ninety dollars left?”
“Jess that, as Mandy and I counted it jess afore I started. You see, I have come down here to buy our Sunday school library some new books, and I was to get some new things for Mandy, and she and me ’lowed it would be better to keep the money in separate places, though I was shallow enough to put in ten of the church money in my satchel. You see, my wallet was that crowded I couldn’t do much different. Now that has gone, with Mandy’s new things and my shirt and——”