"But perhaps I can pass myself off for Mr. Haberstro. I have some of his cards in my pocket."
"But you will only get yourself into trouble if you try that game. There are people out there who know Haberstro."
"Well, that is so," said Claus, looking reflectively at the ground. "I shall have to think up some way to get around that. At any rate, you cannot be of any further use to me, and so you had better start by the next train."
"Well, you had better give me some money before you turn me off in this way," said Casper. "How am I going to get back to the city without money?"
"Where is that ten dollars you got out of the telegraph office when your time was up?" asked Claus, who did not like it whenever the subject of giving some of his hard earnings was brought up before him. "You have not spent all of that, I know."
"Yes, I have. I have just a quarter, and there it is," said Casper, pulling out of his pocket the coin in question.
"I wish to goodness I had never seen you!" said Claus, shoving his hand into the pocket in which he kept his money. Casper heard the jingling of some silver pieces, and thought that perhaps his companion might be tempted to give him a few dollars. That would be better than nothing, and he would have some money left when he reached St. Louis. "If I had never seen you, I would have more dollars left in my pocket than I have now," said Claus, bringing out a handful of small change.
Casper said nothing in reply. He wanted to see how much Claus was going to give him; and, once he had the money in his hand, he could talk to him as he pleased.
"There are five dollars that I will give you, and you need not ask me for any more," said Claus, counting out the money; "for, if you do, you won't get it."
"I don't know whether five dollars will pay my fare to St. Louis or not," said Casper. "Give me six."