“Forty-two,” corrected Robert.
“I declare, so it does! You are a good hand at subtraction.”
Robert felt that he could not truthfully return the compliment and prudently remained silent.
“There is your money,” continued the trader, putting in Robert’s hand a dollar bill and forty-two cents in change. “Your uncle must have been quite lucky.”
He looked questioningly at our hero, but Robert did not choose to gratify his curiosity.
“Is it so very lucky to make two dollars?” he asked, and with these words he left the store.
“That’s a cur’us boy!” soliloquized Mr. Sands, looking after him. “I can’t get nothin’ out of him. Looks as if John Trafton must have turned over a new leaf to give him so much money to buy groceries. I hope he has. It’s better that I should get his money than the tavern keeper.”
Mr. Sands did not have to wait long before his curiosity was partially gratified, for the very man of whom he was thinking just then entered the store.
“Has my nephew been here?” he inquired.
“Just went out.”