noon
`` Guess I 'll take a half-lot this time , '' replied Jerome . Ozias eyed him sharply , but said nothing . Jerome had in his room a little iron-bound strong-box which had belonged to his father , though few treasures had poor Abel Edwards ever had occasion to store in it . After dinner that noon Jerome went up-stairs , unlocked the strong-box , took out some coins , handling them carefully lest they jingle , and put them in his leather wallet . Then he went down-stairs and out the front door as stealthily as if he had been thieving . Elmira and her mother were at work in the parlor , and saw him go down the walk and disappear up the road . `` I 'll tell you what 't is , '' said Mrs. Edwards , with one of her sharp , confirmatory nods , `` J'rome 's been takin ' out some of that money , an ' he 's goin ' to Dale to get him some new clothes . ''