"Do you mind my telling the other boys about your losing your money?""No; it will be known tomorrow at any rate; there is no advantage in concealing it."A heavy step was heard outside. It stopped before the door.
"I must be getting," said Bundy, "or I'll get into trouble."It was against the rule at the school for boys to make calls upon each other in the evening unless permission were given.
John Bundy opened the door suddenly, and to his dismay found himself facing the rigid figure of Dr. Sampson, the principal.
"How do you happen to be here, Bundy?" asked the doctor sternly.
"Please, sir, I was sympathizing with Ropes on his losing his money," said Bundy with ready wit.
"Very well! I will excuse you this time."
"I'm awful sorry for you, Ropes," said Bundy effusively.
"Thank you," responded Rodney.
"You can go now," said the principal. "I have a little business with Master Ropes.""All right, sir. Good night.""Good night."
"Won't you sit down, Dr. Sampson?" said Rodney politely, and he took the casket from the chair.
"Yes, I wish to have five minutes' conversation with you.
So these are the jewels, are they?"
"Yes, sir."
"They seem to be quite valuable," went on the doctor, lifting the pearl necklace and poising it in his fingers. "It will be well for you to have them appraised by a jeweler.""It would, sir, if I wished to sell them, but I mean to keep them as they are.""I would hardly advise it. You will need the money.
Probably you do not know how near penniless you are.""No, sir; I don't know.""Your guardian, as you are aware, sent me a check for one hundred and twenty five dollars. I have figured up how much of this sum is due to me, and I find it to be one hundred and thirteen dollars and thirty seven cents.""Yes, sir," said Rodney indifferently.
"This leaves for you only eleven dollars and sixty three cents.
You follow me, do you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you any money saved up from your allowance?""A few dollars only, sir.""Ahem! that is a pity. You will need all you can raise.
But of course you did not anticipate what has occurred?""No, sir.""I will throw off the thirty seven cents," said the principal magnanimously, "and give you back twelve dollars.""I would rather pay you the whole amount of your bill,"said Rodney.
"Ahem! Well perhaps that would be more business-like. So you don't wish to part with any of the jewelry, Ropes?""No, sir.""I thought, perhaps, by way of helping you, I would take the earrings, and perhaps the necklace, off your hands and present them to Mrs. Sampson."Rodney shuddered with aversion at the idea of these precious articles, which had once belonged to his mother, being transferred to the stout and coarse featured consort of the principal.
"I think I would rather keep them," he replied.
"Oh well, just as you please," said Dr. Sampson with a shade of disappointment for he had no idea of paying more than half what the articles were worth. "If the time comes when you wish to dispose of them let me know."Rodney nodded, but did not answer in words.
"Of course, Ropes," went on the doctor in a perfunctory way, "Iam very sorry for you. I shall miss you, and, if I could afford it, I would tell you to stay without charge. But I am a poor man.""Yes," said Rodney hastily, "I understand. I thank you for your words but would not under any circumstances accept such a favor at your hands.""I am afraid you are proud, Ropes. Pride is--ahem--a wrong feeling.""Perhaps so, Dr. Sampson, but I wish to earn my own living without being indebted to any one.""Perhaps you are right, Ropes. I dare say I should feel so myself. When do you propose leaving us?""Some time tomorrow, sir.""I shall feel sad to have you go. You have been here so long that you seem to me like a son. But we must submit to the dispensations of Providence--" and Dr. Sampson blew a vigorous blast upon his red silk handkerchief. "I will give you the balance due in the morning.""Very well, sir."Rodney was glad to be left alone. He had no faith in Dr.
Sampson's sympathy. The doctor had the reputation of being worth from thirty to forty thousand dollars, and his assumption of being a poor man Rodney knew to be a sham.
He went to bed early, for tomorrow was to be the beginning of a new life for him.
