"Well! well! And it is the first time you have ever done
anything of the sort in your life?"
"The very first," said the boy.
"But what could have put it into your head?"
"There was another person with me," said Samuel--"you will understand
that I would rather not talk about him."
"I see," said the other. "He led you to it?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you have never done anything dishonest before?"
"No, sir."
"You have never even been a thief?"
"No!" exclaimed Samuel indignantly.
The other noticed the tone of his voice. "But why did you begin now?"
he asked.
"I was persuaded that it was right," said Samuel.
"But how could that be? Had you never been taught about stealing?"
"Yes, sir," replied the boy--"but it's not as simple as it seems. I
had met Professor Stewart--"
"Professor Stewart!" echoed the other.
"Yes, sir--the professor at the college."
"But what did he have to do with it?"
"Why, sir, he told me about the survival of the fittest, and how I had
to starve to death because I was one of the failures. And then you
see, sir, I met Master Albert--"
"Master Albert?"
"Albert Lockman, sir. And the professor had said that he was one of
the fit; and I saw that he got drunk, sir, and did other things that
were very wicked, and so it did not seem just right that I should
starve. I can see now that it was very foolish of me; but I thought
that I ought to fight, and try to survive if I possibly could.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139