“Luke,” said Mr. Jones to the driver, “you’d better take that boy’s fare now. He wants to swindle you out of a ride.”
“You may take it out of this,” said Robert, tendering a five-dollar bill.
“I guess we’ll let it stand till we get to Kaneville,” said Luke, gathering up the reins.
Robert darted a glance of triumph at the discomfited and bewildered landlord, and his journey was begun.
The latter, on Luke’s return, learned to his further surprise that Robert had gone to Boston. On reflection, he concluded that Mrs. Trafton must have some relatives in the city from whom they hoped to borrow enough money to raise the mortgage.
“But he won’t succeed, and in four weeks I shall turn him and his aunt out of doors,” Mr. Jones complacently reflected.
CHAPTER XXIII
AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE
When Robert arrived in Boston he was at first bewildered by the noise and bustle to which, in the quiet fishing village, he was quite unaccustomed. All that he knew about the city was the names of the principal streets.