CHAPTER XVII.
TOM GAINS A VICTORY.
“GO TO California!” exclaimed Mrs. Thatcher, in dismay, when Tom had finished his story. “You surely can’t be in earnest, Tom?”
“Why, not, mother? Remember, there is a bag of gold dust somewhere there which belongs to us. If my father knows what is going on here, don’t you think it would be a relief to him to know that this money was in our hands? When he was gathering it he was thinking of us. It was for our sakes that he went so far from home, and thus far his labor has brought us no advantage.”
Tom spoke earnestly, and his mother was somewhat impressed by his words. Still she had a mother’s reluctance to have her only boy leave her on a distant trip for an uncertain period.
“Of course, I wouldn’t go if you and Tillie were likely to suffer,” continued Tom. “But I shall be able to leave with you as much money as I earned in the whole of last year, besides buying you some dresses, and so on, before I go.”
“I can’t understand where all this money comes from, Tom,” said Mrs. Thatcher, in a puzzled tone.
“I am not at liberty to tell you, mother; I can only say it is given me for the special purpose of making this journey.”
“But who could possibly care so much about your going to California.”
“It is some one who once knew father, and knew about the bag of gold dust being concealed.”
“It seems very strange.”