Now I am quite aware that in three cases out of four the lucky news-vender would have profited by the mistake, and never thought of offering to correct it. Indeed, I am inclined to think that Tom herself would have done the same three months before. Even now she was strongly tempted to do so. But she remembered the false charge that had been made against her by Mrs. Merton the day before, and the indignation she felt.
“If I keep this, and it’s ever found out, she’ll be sure I took the twenty dollars,” thought Tom. “I won’t do it. I won’t let her call me a thief. I’ll give it back.”
The purchaser of the paper was already half through Fulton Market before Tom made up her mind to return the money. She started on a run, afraid her resolution might give way if she stopped to consider.
She easily recognized the man who had paid her the money.
“Mister,” said Tom, touching him to attract his attention.
“What’s wanted?” he inquired, looking at our heroine.
“Did you mean to give me this?” and Tom displayed the gold piece.
“Yes, you bought a ‘Herald,’ you know, and told me to keep the change.”
“Well, why didn’t you?” he asked, in some curiosity.
“I shouldn’t have found it out. Didn’t you want to keep it?”
“No, not in this case. So I told you to keep the change, did I?”
“Then I’ll do it,” said Tom. “Aint I in luck this morning, though?”
“Yes, I think you are. As I probably know more of business than you, my young friend, will you permit me to give you a piece of advice?”
“Then, as gold is at a premium, you had better sell that gold piece, and take the value in currency.”
“I don’t, in general, solicit business, but, if you have confidence in my integrity, you may call at my office, No. — Wall Street, any time to-day, and I will give you the market value of the gold.”
“I don’t understand all them big words,” said Tom, rather puzzled, “but I’ll go as soon as I have sold my papers.”
“Very good. You may ask for Mr. Dunbar. Can you remember the name?”
Tom said she could, repeating it two or three times, to become familiar with it.
An hour later she entered the broker’s office, looking about her for her acquaintance of the morning.
“Ah, there you are,” said the broker, recognizing her.
“Gold sells at 141 to-day. Will that be satisfactory?”