sports in a short time, because they indulge in them too freely.

Nothing specially worthy of note occurred in either club till near the
end of the month of May. The intimacy between Charles Hardy and Tim
Bunker was observed to increase, though no one had any suspicion of the
secret which had cemented the bond of their union.

The lost purse was the property of Mr. Walker. At a subsequent visit to
Rippleton, he had mentioned his loss, but he had no idea where he had
dropped it. Tim congratulated his still unwilling confederate on the
success of his villainy. Mr. Walker did not even know whether he had
lost his money in the town or not; so, of course, he had no suspicion of
them.

"You are a first-rate fellow, Charley, but you are too chickenish by
half," said Tim Bunker.

"I don't feel right about it, and I wish I had given up the purse when I
found it."

"Pooh!"

"I meant to do so."

"I know you did. You were just fool enough to do such a thing. If it
hadn't been for me, you would have done it."

"O, I wish I had!"

"Don't be a fool, Charley."