“If you want it, you’ll have to get out and get it,” he said.

The tramp saw the coin glistening upon the ground, and had no suspicion of its not being genuine.  It was not much—­only a dollar—­but he was “dead broke,” and it was worth picking up.  He had not expected that Ben had much, and so was not disappointed.

“Curse you!” he said, relinquishing his hold upon Ben.  “Why couldn’t you give it to me instead of throwing it out there?”

“Because,” answered Ben boldly, “I didn’t want you to have it.”

“Get out and get it for me!”

“I won’t!” answered Ben firmly.

“Then stop the horse and give me a chance to get out.”

“I’ll do that.”

Ben brought the horse to a halt, and his unwelcome passenger descended, much to his relief.  He had to walk around the wagon to get at the coin.  Our hero brought down the whip with emphasis on the horse’s back and the animal dashed off at a good rate of speed.

“Stop!” exclaimed the tramp, but Ben had no mind to heed his call.

“No, my friend, you don’t get another chance to ride with me,” he said to himself.

The tramp picked up the coin, and his practiced eye detected that it was bogus.

“The young villain!” he muttered angrily.  “I’d like to wring his neck.  It’s a bad one after all.”  He looked after the receding team and was half disposed to follow, but he changed his mind, reflecting, “I can pass it anyhow.”

Instead of pursuing his journey, he made his way into the woods, and, stretching himself out among the underbrush, went to sleep.

Half a mile before reaching the store, Ben overtook Rose Gardiner, who had the reputation of being the prettiest girl in Pendleton—­at any rate, such was Ben’s opinion.  She looked up and smiled pleasantly at Ben as he took off his hat.

“Shall you attend Prof.  Harrington’s entertainment at the Town Hall this evening, Ben?” she asked, after they had interchanged greetings.

“I should like to go,” answered Ben, “but I am afraid I can’t be spared from the store.  Shall you go?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.  I hope I shall see you there.”

“I shall want to go all the more then.” answered Ben gallantly.

“You say that to flatter me,” said the young lady, with an arch smile.

“No, I don’t,” said Ben earnestly.  “Won’t you get in and ride as far as the store?”

“Would it be proper?” asked Miss Rose demurely.

“Of course it would.”

“Then I’ll venture.”

Ben jumped from the wagon, assisted the young lady in, and the two drove into the village together.  He liked his second passenger considerably better than the first.

CHAPTER II BEN AND HIS MOTHER

Ben Barclay, after taking leave of the tramp, lost no time in driving to the grocery store where he was employed.  It was a large country store, devoted not to groceries alone, but supplies of dry-goods, boots and shoes, and the leading articles required in the community.  There were two other clerks besides Ben, one the son, another the nephew, of Simon Crawford, the proprietor.