“Go to the trunk. You will find some.”
There was a small hair trunk in another corner. Ernest knew that this was meant, and he lifted the lid.
There was a small wooden box at the left-hand side. Opening this, Ernest saw three five-dollar gold pieces.
“There are but three gold pieces, uncle,” he announced, looking toward the bed.
“Take one of them, Ernest.”
“I wonder if that is all the money he has left?” thought Ernest.
He rose and went to the door.
“I won’t be gone long, uncle,” he said. He followed a path which led from the door in an easterly direction to the village. It was over a mile away, and consisted of a few scattering houses, a blacksmith’s shop and a store.
It was to the store that Ernest bent his steps. It was a one-story structure, as were most of the buildings in the village. There was a sign over the door which read:
JOE MARKS,