?" thought Sam, perplexed. "Here is a chance to make
twenty dollars extra if I only had three dollars more."

A bright idea dawned upon him. If he would only get his week's wages
in advance he would be able to manage. He would broach the subject.

"Do you think, Mr. Budd, Mr. Dalton would be willing to pay me my
week's wages to-day instead of Saturday?" he inquired.

"I know he wouldn't. It's contrary to his rule."

"But it is important for me to have the money to-day," pleaded Sam.
"Don't you think he would do it if I told him that?"

Budd shook his head.

"It wouldn't be a good plan to ask him," he said. "He would conclude
that you were living beyond your means, and that he doesn't like."

"Couldn't you lend me the money?" asked Sam.

"I told you yesterday I couldn't, that is, I am not willing to. I
don't approve of the way you spend your money."

"It's only for this time," said Sam. "I'll never ask you again."

"I may as well be frank with you," said the young man. "If you were
economical, and were short o money from sickness, or any other cause
which you could not control, I would say 'Yes'; but while you complain
of your salary as insufficient, you play billiards, and spend the
evening at the theater; and these things I don't approve. I didn't do
that when I was in your position. How do I know but you want your
money in advance to spend in the same way?"

"I don't," said Sam.

"What do you want of it, then?"

"The fact is," said Sam, "it's to get something out of the
pawnbroker's."

"What is it?"

"It's--a coat," said Sam, forced to tell a lie.

"When did you pledge it?"

"Yesterday."

"And you spent the money going to the theater," said Budd,
sarcastically.

"Yes," said Sam, confused.

"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"I won't do it again, if you will lend me money to get it out."

"You can wait till Saturday, when you receive your wages. You have a
coat on, and certainly cannot need the other. I didn't know that you
had another, by the way."

Sam was beginning to see that he had only got himself into a scrape by
his false statement, and he did not know how to extricate himself.

"I need it before Saturday," he said.

"Why do you? Won't this do?"

"The fact is," said Sam, "there's a fellow wants to buy it from me,
and he wants it to-day, or he won't take it."

"Why do you want to sell your clothes, Sam?"

"Because I need the money."

"It seems to me you are managi