“You needn’t condescend any longer,” said Tom, curtly, and he crossed to the other side of the street.

Randolph looked after him rather uneasily.  After all, he was sorry to lose his humble follower.

“He’ll be coming round in a day or two to ask me to take him back,” he reflected.  “I would be willing to give him ten cents more, but as for giving him the watch, he must think me a fool to part with that.”

CHAPTER IV

LUKE’S NIGHT ADVENTURE

“I am sorry you have lost the watch, Luke,” said the teacher, after Randolph’s departure.  “You will have to be satisfied with deserving it.”

“I am reconciled to the disappointment, sir,” answered Luke.  “I can get along for the present without a watch.”

Nevertheless, Luke did feel disappointed.  He had fully expected to have the watch to carry home and display to his mother.  As it was, he was in no hurry to go home, but remained for two hours skating with the other boys.  He used his friend Linton’s skates, Linton having an engagement which prevented his remaining.

It was five o’clock when Luke entered the little cottage which he called home.  His mother, a pleasant woman of middle age, was spreading the cloth for supper.  She looked up as he entered.

“Well, Luke?” she said inquiringly.

“I haven’t brought home the watch, mother,” he said.  “Randolph Duncan won it by accident.  I will tell you about it.”

After he had done so, Mrs. Larkin asked thoughtfully.  “Isn’t it a little singular that Tom should have got in your way?”

“Yes; I thought so at the time.”

“Do you think there was any arrangement between him and Randolph?”

“As you ask me, mother, I am obliged to say that I do.”

“It was a very mean trick!” said Mrs. Larkin, resentfully.

“Yes, it was; but poor Tom was well punished for it.  Why, he’s got a bunch on the back of his head almost as large as a hen’s egg.”

“I don’t pity him,” said Mrs. Larkin.

“I pity him, mother, for I don’t believe Randolph will repay him for the service done him.  If Randolph had met with the same accident I am not prepared to say that I should have pitied him much.”

“You might have been seriously injured yourself, Luke.”

“I might, but I wasn’t, so I won’t take that into consideration.  However, mother, watch or no watch, I’ve got a good appetite.  I shall be ready when supper is.”

Luke sat down to the table ten minutes afterward and proved his words good, much to his mother’s satisfaction.