He put the question to one pleasant-looking boy, of whom he bought an evening paper.
"I make about sixty or seventy cents a day," was the reply.
Sixty or seventy cents a day! That meant about four dollars a week. It was scarcely better than the salary offered in the furnishing goods store, and the employment would not be so agreeable. He felt that he should not like to have his step-father or any one who knew him in his native town seeing him selling daily papers in the street, so he decided not to take up that business except as a last resort.
One day he went into a large dry goods store to purchase a small article. He made his purchase and started to go out.
All at once he heard a cry, proceeding from a lady.
"I have lost my purse."
"That boy's got it!" said a voice.
Then much to his bewilderment Robert found himself seized by the shoulder, and a pocket-book was drawn out from the side pocket of his sack coat.
"Send for an officer!" said the floor-walker. "The boy is a thief!"