“Well, why don’t you go on?” inquired Sam, when the other paused and looked at him. “See here, my friend,” he added, shaking his finger at Arthur, while his eyes flashed threateningly, “you have had your say, and now I am going to have mine. I want that money, and I am going to have it, too. You hear me? If you won’t get it for me, I will go straight to your father, and tell him the whole story. I think he would rather give me the money than lose all Bob’s millions—don’t you?”
“Oh, don’t do that!” implored Arthur, whose anger was all gone now. “I’ll ask him for it the first chance I get.”
“But if he wouldn’t—if he doesn’t fork out on demand, I will see that the boys get wind of the whole affair, and what do you suppose would be the result? They are just in the right humor for business now, and if I should leave a little note where one of them could find it, you and your father would be—”
Here Sam stopped, and looked up at the branches over his head. It needed no words to explain what he meant.
“Don’t! don’t!” cried Arthur, who was trembling in every limb. “I will ask for the money before I go to sleep to-night—honor bright, I will.”
“I knew you would change your mind after you had thought the matter over,” said Sam, with a meaning smile. “Now, how soon may I expect to get the five thousand?”
“Just as soon as I can induce my father to give it to me,” promised Arthur.
“Well, say to-morrow, then. I will meet you here in the grove right away after breakfast. I don’t want a job at herding sheep, now, and I don’t want to hang around any longer than I can help; so don’t waste any time.”
“Are you going away?” asked Arthur, eagerly.
“You bet! I don’t think my constitution can stand this climate.”