contemplation of the bills, and was lost to
everything around me. If I had heard any noise, I supposed it was Darky.
I saw that Ham had taken off his boots, and put on a pair of old
rubbers, which explained why I had not heard his step on the stairs.

"What have you got there, Buck?" repeated he, as I did not answer the
first question.

"I've got a little money," I replied.

"Where did you get it?"

"I didn't steal it?"

"Well, I didn't say you did. I only asked you a civil question."

"It's some money I made on my own account," I replied, as composedly as
I could.

"Have you done with that lantern? I want it," he continued, either
satisfied with my answer, or too wet and cold to pursue the inquiry any
further.

I gave him the lantern, and followed him down stairs, greatly annoyed by
the discovery he had made, for I could not help thinking that he had
been watching me, perhaps to obtain another opportunity of settling the
old score. I closed the stable door, and went into the house. The
family, including the squire, had gone to bed. Ham, with the lantern in
his hand, passed through the entry into the shop. I lighted a lamp in
the kitchen, and went up to my room, which was in the L over the store.
I took off my wet clothes, put on a dry shirt, and got into bed.

Though it was after midnight, I could not at once go to sleep. I could
not help thinking of the stirring events of the evening, for never
before had so much happened to me in so brief a period. I was beginning
to gape fearfully, and to lose myself, when the whinings of Bully at the
side door disturbed me. My canine friend usually slept in the barn; but
he appeared to have been out late, like the rest of us, and had been
locked out. He was a knowing dog, and the light in the store had
probably assured him that some one was up, or he would not have had the
impudence to apply for admission at that unseemly hour.

I had just become comfortably warm in bed, and did not like the idea of
getting up, even for the accommodation of Bully, though I was willing to
do so rather than oblige the poor fellow to stay out in the cold all
night. I waited a while to see if Ham would not have the grace to admit
my friend; but the whining continued, and reluctantly I jumped out of
bed. Putting on my socks and pants, I crept down stairs, so as not to
disturb the squire, who occupied the front chamber.

In the lower entry, I found that the door which led to the shop was
p