The adventures of Tom Sawyer

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Half
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MR. JONES'S SURPRISE A FAILURE. 267
Tom ran out oi doors.
The company looked at each other witli a perplexed
interest—and inquiringly at Huck, who was tongue-tied.
" Sid, what ails Tom.?" said Aunt Polly. "He—Avell, there ain't ever any
making of that boy out. I never— "
Tom entered, struggling with the weight of his sacks, and Aunt Polly did
not finish her sentence. Tom poured the mass of yellow coin upon the table
and said
" There—what did I tell you
.-^
of it's Huck's and half of it's mine !
The spectacle took the general breath away. All gazed, nobody spoke for a
moment. Then there was a unanimous call for an explanation. Tom said he
could furnish it, and he did. The tale was long, but brim full of interest.
There was scarcely an interruption from anyone to break the charm of its
flow. When he had finished, Mr. Jones said
" I thought I had fixed up a little surprise for this occasion, but it don't
amount to anything now. This one makes it sing mighty small, I'm willing
to allow."
The money was counted. The sum amoimted to a little over twelve thousand
dollars. It was more than any one present had ever seen at one time
before, though several
than that in property.
persons were there who were worth considerably more
"