“I know what it’s about. He wants me to increase his allowance.”
“Twenty-five cents does seem small for a boy of Joshua’s age.”
“If he wants more, let him go to work and earn it. That’s the way I had to do when I was of his age. I’ll tell you what it is, wife, Joshua is a lazy, good-for-nothing boy. If he had his own way, he’d spend five dollars a week, and do nothing but loaf around the village. Now, I’m not going to permit this. He shan’t squander the money I have worked so hard for.”
The suspicion that Joshua had run away from home had not entered his father’s mind. He did not think that his son, for whom he felt contempt in spite of the relationship, had spirit enough to take such a step; and, besides, he knew that he could not go far without money.
After supper Mr. Drummond went back to the store, and did not return till it had closed.
“Has Joshua got home?” he asked.
“No,” answered his wife, anxiously. “I am afraid, Jacob, you have driven him to some desperate step.”
“Nonsense! I am not in the least troubled about him. A bad penny always returns.”
He went upstairs to deposit the money he had brought from the till, in his little black trunk. Two minutes afterward he hurried downstairs, pale with passion.
“What do you think your son has done?” he demanded of his startled wife.