He remembered one day when he was looking for a book he wanted to read, that he had come across a shop-worn copy of La Fontaine's Fables. It was on a back shelf, in an out of-the-way place. He looked for it, and found his memory had served him correctly.
"Here it is," he said, handing it down.
"I am very glad to get it," said the lady. "How much will it be?"
"The regular price is a dollar and a quarter, but as this is a little shop-worn you may have it for a dollar."
"Very well."
The lady drew out a dollar bill from her purse, and handed it to Roswell.
He held it in his hand till she was fairly out of the door. Then the thought came into his mind, "Why should I not keep this money? Mr. Baker would never know. Probably he has quite forgotten that such a book was in his stock."
Besides, as the price of a ticket to the family circle at Wallack's was only thirty cents, this sum would carry in him and his friend, and there would be enough left for an ice-cream after they had got through.
The temptation was too much for poor Roswell I call him poor, because I pity any boy who foolishly yields to such a temptation for the sake of a temporary gratification.
Roswell put the money into his vest-pocket, and shortly afterwards Mr. Baker returned to the store.