Lorenzo Riccabocca did not know he was pursued. He felt himself so safe from this, on account of the secrecy of his departure, that he never took the trouble to look behind him. He knew the way well enough, for the fields he was crossing were level, and half a mile away, perhaps a little more, he could see the roof of the brown-painted depot, which was his destination. Once there, he would buy a ticket, get on the train, and get started away from Knoxville before the troublesome acquaintances who were waiting for him to come down-stairs had any idea where he was gone.
The professor ran at a steady, even pace, looking straight before him. His eyes were fixed on the haven of his hopes, and he did not notice a stone, of considerable size, which lay in his path. The result was that he stumbled over it, and fell forward with considerable force. He rose, jarred and sore, but there was no time to take account of his physical damages. He must wait till he got on the train.
The force with which he was thrown forward was such that the wallet was thrown from his pocket, and fell in the grass beside the path. The professor went on his way, quite unconscious of his loss, but there were other eyes that did not overlook it.
Sam, who was thirty rods behind, noticed Professor Riccabocca’s fall, and he likewise noticed the wallet when he reached the spot of the catastrophe.
“My eyes!” he exclaimed, opening those organs wide in delight; “here’s luck! The old gentleman has dropped his pocketbook. Most likely it’s stolen. I’ll carry it back and give it to Mr. Perry.”
Sam very sensibly decided that it wasn’t worth while to continue the pursuit, now that the thief, as he supposed Riccabocca to be, had dropped his booty.
Sam was led by curiosity to open the wallet. When he saw the thick roll of bills, he was filled with amazement and delight.
“Oh, what a rascal he was!” ejaculated the boy. “I guess he’s been robbing a safe. I wonder how much is here?”
He was tempted to sit down on the grass and count the bills, but he was prevented by the thought that the professor might discover his loss, and returning upon his track, question him as to whether he had found it. Sam determined that he wouldn’t give it up, at any rate.
“I guess I could wrastle with him,” he thought. “He looks rather spindlin’, but then he’s bigger than I am, and he might lick me, after all.”