o keep it from
him?"

Ben detailed the stratagem of which he made use.

"You did well," said the storekeeper approvingly. "I must give you a
dollar for the one you sacrificed."

"But sir, it was bad money. I couldn't have passed it."

"That does not matter. You are entitled to some reward for the
courage and quick wit you displayed. Here is a dollar, and--let me
see, there is an entertainment at the Town Hall this evening, isn't
there?"

"Yes, sir. Prof. Harrington, the magician, gives an entertainment,"
said Ben eagerly.

"At what time does it commence?"

"At eight o'clock."

"You may leave the store at half-past seven. That will give you
enough time to get there."

"Thank you, sir. I wanted to go to the entertainment, but did not
like to ask for the evening."

"You have earned it. Here is the dollar," and Mr. Crawford handed the
money to his young clerk, who received it gratefully.

A magical entertainment may be a very common affair to my young
readers in the city, but in a country village it is an event.
Pentonville was too small to have any regular place of amusement, and
its citizens were obliged to depend upon traveling performers, who,
from time to time, engaged the Town Hall. Some time had elapsed since
there had been any such entertainment, and Prof. Harrington was the
more likely to be well patronized. Ben, who had the love of amusement
common to boys of his age, had been regretting the necessity of
remaining in the store till nine o'clock, and therefore losing his
share of amusement when, as we have seen, an opportunity suddenly
offered.

"I am glad I met the tramp, after all," he said to himself. "He has
brought me luck."

At supper he told is mother what had befallen him, but she tool a more
serious view of it than he did.

"He might have murdered you, Ben," she said with a shudder.

"Oh, no; he wouldn't do that. He might have stolen Mr. Crawford's
money; that was the most that was likely to happen."

"I didn't think there were highwaymen about here. Now I shall be
worrying about you."

"Don't do that mother; I don't feel in any danger. Still, if you
think it best, I will carry a pistol."

"No, no, Ben! it might go off and kill you. I would rather run the
risk of a highwayman. I wonder if the man is prowling about in the
neighborhood yet?"

"I don't think my bogus dollar will carry him very far. By the way,
mother, I must tell yon one strange thing. He asked m