Among other things, Sam wanted a fishing-pole. There was a supply at a variety store in the village. He had never inquired the price, because he had no money. Now that he was wealthy he determined to inquire.
So he went into the store and, pointing to the coveted article, asked the price.
"Seventy-five cents," answered the old man, Gordon Locke, who kept the store.
"Seventy-five cents!" repeated Sam, thoughtfully.
This would only leave him twenty-five cents, and there were so many other things he wanted.
"Was you calc'latin' to buy, Sam?" asked Mr. Locke, pushing up his iron-bound spectacles.
"I don't know," said Sam, slowly; "I didn't think I'd have to pay so much."
"It's cheap, for the quality," said the store keeper. "This ain't no common fishing-pole. It comes all the way from York."
"Yes, it seems a nice one," Sam admitted.
"Hev you got the money about you?" asked the old man.
"Then you'd better take the pole. You won't find no better within fifty mile."
He could not make up his mind to part with his precious dollar so soon. As long as he had it, he felt like a man of property. When it was once changed, he would once more be a poor boy.
In spite of the storekeeper's persuasions, he walked out with his money intact, leaving the coveted fishing-pole behind.
Now it so happened that his uncle, who never allowed anything to pass unnoticed, saw from the window Sam come out of the store, which was nearly opposite.
"What business has he there, I wonder?" he said to himself.
Five minutes later he made an errand to visit the store himself.
"Good-day, Mr. Wolverton," said Gordon Locke, deferentially.
"Good-day, Locke! Didn't I see my nephew, Sam, come out of here just now?"
"He was, hey?" said Wolverton, pricking up his ears.
"He reckoned he'd pay seventy-five cents for a fishin'-rod," said Wolverton, slowly. "Did he show you the money?"
"Oho, he had the money," repeated Aaron Wolverton, shaking his head ominously. "Where'd he get it? That's what I'd like to know."
"I reckon you gave it to him; he's your nephew."
"I don't pamper him in any such way as that. So he's got money. I'll have to look into that."
Wolverton, who was of a suspicious disposition, was led to think that Sam had stolen the money from him. He could think of no other way in which the boy could get possession of it.