CHAPTER V.
DARIUS DARKE.
AS TOM was on his way home, walking slowly and thoughtfully, while he considered the change which had taken place in his circumstances and prospects, his attention was attracted to a man shabbily dressed, whose suit looked as if it had been worn five years steadily, advancing along the pathway in an opposite direction.
Nowadays the man would be called a tramp, but at that time the name was not as common as now.
He was a stranger in the village, but Tom didn’t give any thought to his appearance. He was too much interested in his own thoughts and his own troubles.
The man passed him, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, turned back and addressed him.
“Boy,” said he, “are you acquainted about here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you tell me where John Simpson lives?”
“Yes,” answered Tom, with momentary wonder that such a man should have anything to do with the rich shoe manufacturer. “He lives only a little distance back on this same side of the road. You can find the house well enough, for it is the finest in the village.”
“Then I suppose John Simpson is a rich man?” said the tramp, after a slight pause.