advise you not to let Mr. Dalton know that you play at all. He
would be apt to think that you were receiving too high pay, since you
could afford to pay for this amusement."

"I hope you won't tell him," said Sam, anxiously.

"No, I don't tell tales about my fellow clerks."

"Then won't you lend me a dollar?" inquired Sam, returning to the
charge.

"I would rather not, under the circumstances."

Sam was disappointed. He had five cents left to buy lunch with, and
his appetite was uncommonly healthy.

"Why wasn't I born rich?" thought Sam. "I guess I have a pretty hard
time. I wish I could find a pocket-book or something."

Sam was a juvenile Micawber, and trusted too much to something turning
up, instead of going to work and turning it up himself.

However, strangely enough, something did turn up that very afternoon.

Restricted to five cents, Sam decided to make his lunch of apples. For
this sum an old woman at the corner would supply him with three, and
they were very "filling" for the price. After eating his apples he
took a walk, being allowed about forty minutes for lunch. He bent his
steps toward Wall Street, and sauntered along, wishing he were not
obliged to go back to the office.

All at once his eye rested on a gold ring lying on the sidewalk at his
feet. He stooped hurriedly, and picked it up, putting it in his pocket
without examination, lest it might attract the attention of the owner,
or some one else who would contest its possession with him.

"That's almost as good as a pocket-book," thought Sam, elated. "It's
gold--I could see that. I can get something for that at the
pawnbroker's. I'll get some supper to-night, even if I can't borrer
any money."

Some boys would have reflected that the ring was not theirs to pawn;
but Sam, as the reader has found out by this time, was not a boy of
high principles. He had a very easy code of morality, and determined
to make the most of his good fortune.

When he got a chance he took a look at his treasure.

There was a solitary diamond, of considerable size, set in it. Sam did
not know much about diamonds, and had no conception of the value of
this stone. His attention was drawn chiefly to the gold, of which
there was considerable. He thought very little of the piece of glass,
as he considered it.

"I'd orter get five dollars for this," he thought, complacently. "Five
dollars will be a great help to a poor chap like me. I'll go round to
the pawnbroker'