"Unhappy boy!" he said, addressing Joshua. "I understand now what became of the five dollars. This decides me to do what I had intended to do sooner. I have supported you in laziness long enough. It is time you went to work. Next week you must go to work. I will take you into my store; but as I am not sure of your honesty, if I find you appropriating money to your own use, I will put you into a shoe-shop and make a shoemaker of you."
This was an alarming threat to Joshua, who had a foolish pride, which led him to look upon a trade as less respectable than the mercantile profession. He slunk out of the house, and Mr. Drummond went back to the store, while Walter set out on foot for the railway station, three-quarters of a mile distant.
CHAPTER XXI. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
"Give me a ticket to Willoughby," said Walter, offering the five-dollar bill which he had come so near losing.
The ticket was handed him, and three dollars and seventy-five cents were returned to him.
"How long are you going to stay away?" asked the station-master, with whom Walter had some acquaintance.
"I may not come back at all."