“Mr. Perkins,” said he, “I have found something which belongs to you.”
The merchant looked up. No sooner did he see and recognize Tom than he sprang vivaciously from his chair.
“Did you find the papers?” he asked.
“Here they are, sir.”
“There, Darrell, what did I tell you?” he demanded, triumphantly. “Didn’t I say the boy would prove honest?”
“One case in a hundred.”
“I hope you didn’t think I would keep the papers after you had been so kind as to give me the overcoat!” said Tom, hastily. “I am not so mean as that. I would have come sooner, but it was only about fifteen minutes ago that I found the package.”
Mr. Perkins nodded his head in vigorous approval.
“Do you hear that, Darrell?” he asked. “Did you know the value of these papers?” he asked of Tom.
“Yes, sir; a gentleman of my acquaintance told me they were worth about ten thousand dollars.”