James Cromwell was authorized to draw upon Paul Morton for a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, whenever he could make an arrangement to purchase a drug shop. Although he had agreed to pay fifteen hundred, he drew for the entire sum, and this draft was honored. In the course of a week all the arrangements were completed. The old sign was removed, and another put in its place bearing in large letters the name:
JAMES CROMWELL,
DRUGGIST AND APOTHECARY.
While these arrangements were in progress, Robert Raymond was left in complete ignorance of them. He spent the day in roaming over the neighborhood, with which he had by this time become quite familiar. It had occurred to him several times, to wonder why Mr. Cromwell saw fit to remain so long in a town which seemed to possess no especial attractions. He once or twice put the question, but was put off with an evasive answer, and did not repeat it.
But one morning as he walked through the principal street, he saw the new sign referred to above, going up, and he was struck with surprise.
"What does that mean, I wonder?" he asked himself.
Just at this moment James Cromwell himself appeared at the door of the shop. His hat was off, and it was evident that he was at home here.
"What does that mean, Mr. Cromwell?" asked Robert, pointing to the sign.
"It means that this shop is mine; I have bought it."