新概念英语原文

新概念英语原文Lesson1LastweekIwenttothetheater.Ihadaverygoodseat.Theplaywasveryinteresting.Ididn’tenjoyit.Ayoungmanandayoungwomanweresittingbehindme.Theyweretalkingloudly.Igotveryangry.Icouldn’theartheactors.Iturnedaround.Ilookedatthemanandthewomanangrily.Theydidnotpayanyattention.Intheend,Icouldn’tbearit.Iturnedroundagain.‘Ican’thearaword!’Isaidangrily.‘itisnoneofyourbusiness’theyoungmansaidrudely.‘Thisisaprivateconversation!’Lesson2ItwasSunday.InevergetupearlyonSundays.Isometimesstayinbeduntillunchtime.LastSundayIgotupverylate.Ilookedoutofthewindow.Itwasdarkoutside.‘whataday!’Ithought.‘it’srainingagain.’Justthen,thetelephonerang.Itwasmyauntlucy.‘Ihavejustarrivedbytrain,’shesaid.‘Iamcomingtoseeyou.’‘butIamstillhavingbreakfast,’Isaid.‘whatareyoudoing?’Irepeated.‘dearme!’shesaid.‘doyoualwaysgetupsolate?Itisoneo’clock!’Lesson3Postcardsalwaysspoilmyholidays.Lastsummer,IwenttoItaly.Ivisitedmuseumsandsatinpublicgardens.AfriendlywaitertaughtmeafewwordsofItalian.Thenhelentmeabook.Ireadafewlines,butIdidn’tunderstandaword.EverydayIthoughtaboutpostcards.Myholidayspassedquickly,butIdidn’tsendcardstomyfriends.OnthelastdayImadeabigdecision.Igotupearlyandboughtthirty-sevencards.Ispentthewholedayinmyroom,butIdidn’twriteasinglecard!Lesson4Ihavejustreceivedaletterfrommybrother,Tim.HeisinAustralia.Hehasbeenthereforsixmonths.Timisanengineer.HeisworkingforabigfirmandhehasalreadyvisitedagreatnumberofdifferentplacesinAustralia.HehasjustboughtanAustraliancarandhasgonetoAlicesprings,asmalltowninthecenterofAustralia.HewillsoonvisitDarvin.Fromthere,hewillflytoPerth.Mybrotherhasneverbeenabroadbefore,soheisfindingthistripveryexciting. 1．Ihavejustmovedtoahouseinbridgestreet.Yesterdayabeggarknockedatmydoor.Heaskedmeforamealandaglassofbeer.Inreturnforthis,thebeggarstoodonhisheadandsangsongs.Igavehimameal.Heatethefoodanddrankthebeer.Thenheputapieceofcheeseinhispocketandwentaway.Lateraneighbortoldmeabouthim.Everybodyknowshim.Hisnameispercybuttons.Hecallsateveryhouseinthestreetonceamonthandalwaysasksforamealandaglassofbeer.2.Theplanewaslateanddetectiveswerewaitingattheairportallmorning.TheywereexpectingavaluableparcelofdiamondsfromsouthAfrica.Afewhoursearlier,someonehadtoldthepolicethatthieveswouldtrytostealthediamonds.Whentheplanearrived,someofthedetectiveswerewaitinginsidethemainbuildingwhileotherswerewaitingontheairfield.Twomentooktheparcelofftheplaneandcarrieditintothecustomshouse.Whiletwodetectiveswerekeepingguardatthedoor,twoothersopenedtheparcel.Totheirsurprise,thepreciousparcelwasfullofstonesandsand!3.OnWednesdayevening,wewenttotheTownhall.Itwasthelastdayoftheyearandalargecrowdofpeoplehadgatheredunderthetownhallclock.Itwouldstriketwelveintwentyminutes’time.Fifteenminutespassedandthen,atfivetotwelve,theclockstopped.Thebigminutehanddidnotmove.Wewaitedandwaited,butnothinghappened.Suddenlysomeoneshouted,“it‘stwominutespasttwelve!theclockhasstopped!”Ilookedatmywatch.Itwastrue.Thebigclockrefusedtowelcomethenewyear.Atthatmoment,everybodybegantolaughandsing.4.wehaveanoldmusicalinstrument.Itiscalledaclavichord.ItwasmadeinGermanyin1681.ourclavichordiskeptinthelivingroom.Ithasbelongedtoourfamilyforalongtime.Theinstrumentwasboughtbymygrandfathermanyyearsago.Recentlyitwasdamagedbyavisitor.Shetriedtoplayjazzonit!Shestruckthekeystoohardandtwoofthestringswerebroken.Myfatherwasshocked.Nowwearenotallowedtotouchit.Itisbeingrepairedbyafriendofmyfather’s.5.ourneighbor,captaincharlesAlison,willsailformPortsmouthtomorrow.Wewillmeethimattheharborearlyinthemorning.Hewillbeinhissmallboat,topsail.Topsailisafamouslittleboat.IthassailedacrosstheAtlanticmanytimes.Wewillseehisboatandthenwewillsaygoodbyetohim.Hewillbeawayfortwomonths.Weareveryproudofhim.HewilltakepartinanimportantraceacrosstheAtlantic.6.Ihadanamusingexperiencelastyear.AfterIhadleftasmallvillageinthesouthofFrance,Idroveontothenexttown.Ontheway,ayoungmanwavedtome.Istoppedandheaskedmeforalift.Assoonashehadgotintothecar,IsaidgoodmorningtohiminFrenchandherepliedinthesamelanguage.Apartfromafewwords,Idon’tknowanyFrenchatall.Neitherofusspokeduringthejourney.Ihadnearlyreachedthetown,whentheyoungmansuddenlysaid,veryslowly.“doyouspeakEnglish?”asIsoonlearned,hewasEnglishhimself!7.Thesecretarytoldmethatmr.harmsworthwouldseeme.IfeltverynervouswhenIwentintohisoffice.HedidnotlookupfromhisdeskwhenIentered.AfterIhadsatdown,hesaidthatbusinesswasverybad.Hetoldmethatthefirmcouldnotaffordtopaysuchlargesalaries.Twentypeoplehadalreadyleft.Iknewthatmyturnhadcome.“mr.harmsworth,”Isaidinaweakvoice.“don’tinterrupt,”hesaid.ThenhesmiledandtoldmeIwouldreceiveanextrathousandpoundsayear!8.Ifyouparkyourcarinthewrongplace,atrafficpolicemanwillsoonfindit.Youwillbeveryluckyifheletsyougowithoutaticket.However,thisdoesn’talwayshappen.Trafficpolicearesometimesverypolite.DuringaholidayinSweden,Ifoundthisnoteonmycar:“sir,wewelcomeyoutoourcity.Thisisa“noparking”area.Youwillenjoyyourstayhereifyoupayattentiontoourstreetsign.Thisnoteisonlyareminder.”Ifyoureceivearequestlikethis,youcannotfailtoobeyit. 9．MyauntJenniferisanactress.Shemustbeatleastthirty-fiveyearsold.Inspiteofthis,sheoftenappearsonthestageasayounggirl.Jenniferwillhavetotakepartinanewplaysoon.Thistime,shewillbeagirlofseventeen.Intheplay,shemustappearinabrightreddressandlongblackstockings.Lastyearinanotherplay,shehadtowearshortsocksandabright,orange-coloreddress.Ifanyoneeverasksherhowoldsheis,shealwaysanswers,“darling,itmustbeterribletobegrownup!”10.“theplaymaybeginatanymoment,”Isaid.“itmayhavebegunalready,”susananswered.Ihurriedtotheticketoffice.“mayIhavetwoticketsplease?”Iasked.“Iamsorry,wehavesoldout,”thegirlsaid.“whatapity!”susanexclaimed.Justthen,amanhurriedtotheticketoffice.“canIreturnthesetwotickets?”sheasked.“certainly,”thegirlsaid.Iwentbacktotheticketofficeatonce.“couldIhavethosetwoticketsplease?”Iasked.“certainly,”thegirlsaid,“buttheyarefornextWednesday’sperformance.Doyoustillhavethese?”“Imightaswellhavethem,”Isaidsadly.11.Aeroplanesareslowlydrivingmemad.Ilivenearanairportandpassingplanescanbeheardnightandday.Theairportwasbuiltyearsago,butforsomereasonitcouldnotbeusedthen.Lastyear,however,itcameintouse.Overahundredpeoplemusthavebeendrivenawayfromtheirhomesbythenoise.Iamoneofthefewpeopleleft.SometimesIthinkthishousewillbeknockeddownbyapassingplane.Ihavebeenofferedalargesumofmoneytogoaway,butIamdeterminedtostayhere.EverybodysaysImustbemadandtheyareprobablyright.12.Mydaughter,jane,neverdreamedofreceivingaletterfromagirlofherownageinHolland.Lastyear,weweretravelingacrossthechannelandjaneputapieceofpaperwithhernameandaddressonitintoabottle.Shethrewthebottleintothesea.Sheneverthoughtofitagain,buttenmonthslater,shereceivedaletterfromagirlinHolland.Bothgirlswrotetoeachotherregularlynow.however,theyhavedecidedtousethepostoffice.Letterswillcostalittlemore,buttheywillcertainlytravelfaster.13.Ihadaletterfrommysisteryesterday.ShelivesinNigeria.Inherletter,shesaidthatshewouldcometoEnglandnextyear.Ifshecomes,shewillgetasurprise.Wearenowlivinginabeautifulnewhouseinthecountry.Workonithardbegunbeforemysisterleft.Thehousewascompletedfivemonthsago.Inmyletter,Itoldherthatshecouldstaywithus.Thehousehasmanylargeroomsandthereisalovelygarden.Itisaverymodernhouse,soitlooksstrangetosomepeople.Itmustbetheonlymodernhouseinthedistrict.14.Ienteredthehotelmanager’sofficeandsatdown.Ihadjustlost$50andIfeltveryupset.“Ileftthemoneyinmyroom,”Isaid,“andit’snottherenow.”Themanagerwassympathetic,buthecoulddonothing.“everyoneislosingmoneythesedays,”hesaid.Hestartedtocomplainaboutthiswickedworldbutwasinterruptedbyaknockatthedoor.Agirlcameinandputanenvelopeonhisdesk.Itcontained$50.“Ifoundthisoutsidethisgentleman’sroom,”shesaid,“well,”Isaidtothemanager,“thereisstillsomehonestyinthisworld!”15.IamanartstudentandIpaintalotofpictures.Manypeoplepretendthattheyunderstandmodernart.Theyalwaystellyouwhatapictureisabout.Ofcourse,manypicturesarenotaboutanything.Theyarejustprettypatterns.Weliketheminthesamewaythatwelikeprettycurtainmaterial.Ithinkthatyoungchildrenoftenappreciatemodernpicturesbetterthananyoneelse.Theynoticemore.Mysisterisonlyseven,butshealwaystellsmewhethermypicturesaregoodornot.Shecameintomyroomyesterday.“whatareyoudoing?”sheasked.“Iamhangingthispictureonthewall,”Ianswered.“itisanewone.Doyoulikeit?”shelookedatitcriticallyforamoment.“it’sallright,”shesaid,“butisn’titupsidedown?”Ilookedatitagain.Shewasright!Itwas!16.awetnightlateintheafternoon,theboysputuptheirtentinthemiddleofafield.Assoonasthiswasdone,theycookedamealoveranopenfire.Theywerehungryandthefoodsmelledgood.Afterawonderfulmeal,theytoldstoriesandsangsongsbythecampfire.Butsometimelateritbegantorain.Theboysfelttiredsotheyputoutthefireandcreptintotheirtent.Theirsleepingbagswerewarmandcomfortable,sotheyallsleptsoundly.Inthemiddleofthenight,twoboyswokeupandbeganshouting.Thetentwasfullofwater!Theyallleaptoutoftheirsleepingbagsandhurriedoutside.Itwasrainingheavilyandtheyfoundthatastreamhadformedinthefield.Thestreamwounditswayacrossthefieldandflowedrightundertheirtent.17.Jasperwhiteisoneofthoserarepeoplewhobelievesinancientmyths.Hehasjustboughtanewhouseinthecity,buteversincehemovedin,hehashadtroublewithcarsandtheirowners.Whenhereturnshomeatnight,healwaysfindsthatsomeonehasparkedacaroutsidehisgate.Becauseofthis,hehasnotbeenabletogethisowncarintohisgarageevenonce.Jasperhasputup‘noparking’signsoutsidehisgate,butthesehavenothadanyeffect.Nowhehasputanuglystoneheadoverthegate.ItisoneoftheugliestfacesIhaveeverseen.Iaskedhimwhatitwasandhetoldmethatitwasmedusa,thegorgon.Jasperhopesthatshewillturncarsandtheirownerstostone.Butnoneofthemhasbeenturnedtostoneyet!18.CaptainbenFawcetthasboughtanunusualtaxiandhasbegunanewservice.ThetaxiisasmallSwissaeroplanecalleda‘pilatusporter’.Thiswonderfulplanecancarrysevenpassengers.Themostsurprisingthingaboutit,however,isthatitcanlandanywhere:onsnow,water,orevenonaploughedfield.Captainfawcett’sfirstpassengerwasadoctorwhoflewformBirminghamtoalonelyvillageinthewelshmountains.Sincethen,captainFawcetthasflownpassengerstomanyunusualplaces.Oncehelandedontheroofofblockofflatsandonanotheroccasion,helandedinadesertedcarpark.CaptainFawcetthasjustrefusedastrangerequestfromabusinessman.Themanwantedtoflytorockall,alonelyislandintheatlanticocean,butcaptainFawcettdidnottakehimbecausethetripwastoodangerous.19.Thewayleisasmallriverthatcutsacrosstheparknearmyhome.Ilikesittingbythewayleonfineafternoons.ItwaswarmlastSunday,soIwentandsatontheriverbankasusual.Somechildrenwereplayinggamesonthebankandthereweresomepeoplerowingontheriver.Suddenly,oneofthechildrenkickedaballveryhardanditwenttowardsapassingboat.Somepeopleonthebankcalledouttothemanintheboat,buthedidnothearthem.Theballstruckhimsohardthathenearlyfellintothewater.Iturnedtolookatthechildren,butthereweren’tanyinsight:theyhadallrunaway!Themanlaughed whenherealizedwhathashappened.Hecalledoutthechildrenandthrewtheballbacktothebank.20.successstoryYesterdayafternoonfrankHawkinswastellingmeabouthisexperiencesasayoungman.Beforeheretired,frankwastheheadofaverylargebusinesscompany,butasaboyheusedtoworkinasmallshop.Itwashisjobtorepairbicyclesandatthattimeheusedtoworkfourteenhoursaday.Hesavedmoneyforyearsandin1958heboughtasmallworkshopofhisown.Inhistwentiesfankusedtomakesparepartsforaeroplanes.Atthattimehehadtwohelpers.Inafewyearsthesmallworkshophadbecomealargefactorywhichemployedsevenhundredandtwenty-eightpeople.Franksmiledwhenherememberedhishardearlyyearsandthelongroadtosuccess.Hewasstillsmilingwhenthedooropenedandhiswifecamein.shewantedtohimtorepairtheirgrandson’sbicycle.21.shoppingmadeeasypeoplearenotsohonestastheyoncewere.Thetemptationtostealisgreaterthaneverbefore---especiallyinlargeshops.Adetectiverecentlywatchedawell-dressedwomanwhoalwayswentintoalargestoreonMondaymornings.OneMonday,therewerefewerpeopleintheshopthanusualwhenthewomancamein,soitwaseasierforthedetectivetowatchher.Thewomanfirstboughtafewsmallarticles.Afteralittletime,shechoseoneofthemostexpensivedressesintheshopandhandedittoanassistantwhowrappeditupforherasquicklyaspossible.Thenthewomansimplytooktheparcelandwalkedoutoftheshopwithoutpaying.Whenshewasarrested,thedetectivefoundoutthattheshopassistantwasherdaughter.Thegirl‘gave’hermotherafreedressonceaweek! 22.outofthedarknessnearlyaweekpassedbeforethegirlwasabletoexplainwhathashappenedtoher.Oneafternoonshesetoutfromthecoastinasmallboatandwascaughtinastorm.Towardsevening,theboatstruckarockandthegirljumpedintothesea.Thensheswamtotheshoreafterspendingthewholenightinthewater.Duringthattimeshecoveredadistanceofeightmiles.Earlynextmorning,shesawalightahead.Sheknewshewasneartheshorebecausethelightwashighuponthecliffs.Onarrivingattheshore,thegirlstruggleduptheclifftowardsthelightshehadseen.Thatwasallsheremembered.Whenshewokeupadaylater,shefoundherselfinhospital.   23.quickworkdanrobinsonhasbeenworriedallweek.LastTuesdayhereceivedaletterfromthelocalpolice.Intheletterhewasaskedtocallatthestation.Danwonderedwhyhewaswantedbythepolice,buthewenttothestationyesterdayandnowheisnotworriedanymore.Atthestation,hewastoldbyasmilingpolicemanthathisbicyclehasbeenfound.Fivedaysago,thepolicemantoldhim,thebicyclewaspickedupinasmallvillagefourhundredmilesaway.Itisnowbeingsenttohishomebytrain.Danwasmostsurprisedwhenheheardthenews.Hewasamusedtoo,becauseheneverexpectedthebicycletbefound.Itwasstolentwentyyearsagowhendanwasaboyoffifteen!24.stopthethiefroyTrentonusedtodriveataxi.Ashortwhileago,however,hebecameabusdriverandhehasnotregrettedit.Heisfindinghisnewworkfarmoreexciting.Whenhewasdrivingalongcatfordstreetrecently,hesawtwothievesrushoutofashopandruntowardsawaitingcar.Oneofthemwascarryingabagfullofmoney.Royactedquicklyanddrovethebusstraightatthethieves.Theonewiththemoneygotsuchafrightthathedroppedthebag.Asthethievesweretryingtogetawayintheircar,roydrovehisbusintothebackofit.Whilethebatteredcarwasmovingaway,roystoppedhisbusandtelephonedthepolice.Thethieves’carwasbadlydamagedandeasytorecognize.Shortlyafterwards,thepolicestoppedthecarandbothmenwerearrested.25.acrossthechannelDebbiehartisgoingtoswimacrosstheEnglishchanneltomorrow.SheisgoingtosetoutfromtheFrenchcoastatfiveo’clockinthemorning.Debbieisonlyelevenyearsoldandshehopestosetupanewworldrecord.Sheisastrongswimmerandmanypeoplefeelthatsheissuretosucceed.Debbie’sfatherwillsetoutwithherinasmallboat.Mr.harttrainedhisdaughterforyears.TomorrowhewillbewatchingheranxiouslyassheswimsthelongdistancetoEngland.Debbieintendstotakeshortrestseverytwohour.Shewillhavesomethingtodrinkbutshewillnoteatanysolidfood.Mostofdebbie’sschoolfriendswillbewaitingforherontheEnglishcoast.Amongthemwillbedebbie’smother,whoswamthechannelherselfwhenshewasagirl.26.theOlympicgamestheOlympicgameswillbeheldinourcountryinfouryears’time.Asagreatmanypeoplewillbevisitingthecountry,thegovernmentwillbebuildingnewhotels,animmensestadium,andanewOlympic-standardswimmingpool.Theywillalsobebuildingnewroadsandaspecialrailwayline.Thegameswillbeheldjustoutsidethecapitalandthewholeareawillbecalled‘olympiccity’.Workerswillhavecompletedthenewroadsbytheendofthisyear.Bytheendofnextyear,theywillhavefinishedworkonthenewstadium.Thefantasticmodernbuildinghavebeendesignedbykurtgunter.Everybodywillbewatchinganxiouslyasthenewbuildingsgoup.WeareallveryexcitedandarelookingforwardtotheOlympicgamesbecausetheyhaveneverbeenheldbeforeinthiscountry.27.everythingexcepttheweathermyoldfriend,Harrison,hadlivedintheMediterraneanformanyyearsbeforehereturnedtoEngland.HehadoftendreamedofretiringinEnglandandhadplannedtosettledowninthecountry.Hehadnosoonerreturnedthanheboughtahouseandwenttolivethere.Almostimmediatelyhebegantocomplainabouttheweather,foreventhoughitwasstillsummer,itrainedcontinuallyanditwasoftenbitterlycold.Aftersomanyyearsofsunshine,Harrisongotashock.HeactedasifhehadneverlivedinEnglandbefore.Intheend,itwasmorethanhecouldbear.Hehadhardlyhadtimetosettledownwhenhesoldthehouseandleftthecountry.Thedreamhehadhadforsomanyyearsendedthere.Harrisonhadthoughtofeverythingexcepttheweather.28.amIallright?Whilejohngilbertwasinhospital,heaskedhisdoctortotellhimwhetherhisoperationhadbeensuccessful,butthedoctorrefusedtodoso.Thefollowingday,hepatientaskedforabedsidetelephone.Whenhewasalone,hetelephonedthehospitalexchangeandaskedfordoctorMillington.Whenthedoctoransweredthephone,mr.gilbertsaidhewasinquiringaboutacertainpatient,amr.johngilbert.Heaskedifmr.gilbert’soperationhadbeensuccessfulandthedoctortoldhimthatithadbeen.Hethenaskedwhenmr.gilbertwouldbeallowedtogohomeandthedoctortoldhimthathewouldhavetostayinhospitalforanothertwoweeks.Thendr.Millingtonaskedthecallerifhewasarelativeofthepatient.“no,”thepatientanswered,“Iammr.johngilbert.”29.lastweekatadinnerparty,thehostessaskedmetositnexttomrs.rumbold.mrs.Rumboldwasalarge,unsmilingladyinatightblackdress.ShedidnotevenlookupwhenItookmyseatbesideher.Hereyeswerefixedonherplateandinashorttime,shewasbusyeating.Itriedtomakeconversation.“Inewplayiscomingtotheglobesoon,”Isaid.“Willyoubeseeingit?”“no,”sheanswered.“willyoubespendingyourholidaysabroadthisyear?”Iasked.“no,”sheanswered.“willyoubestayinginEngland?”Iasked.“no,”sheanswered.Indespair,Iaskedherwhethershewasenjoyingherdinner.“youngman,”sheanswered,“ifyouatemoreandtalkedless,wewouldbothenjoyourdinner!”30Doyoucallthatahat?‘Doyoucallthatahat?’Isaidtomywife.‘Youneedn’tbesorudeaboutit,’mywifeansweredasshelookedatherselfinthemirror.Isatdownononeofthosemodernchairswithholesinitandwaited.Wehadbeeninthehatshopforhalfanhourandmywifewasstillinfrontofthemirror.‘Wemustn’tbuythingswedon’tneed,’Iremarkedsuddenly.Iregrettedsayingitalmostatonce.‘Youneedn’thavesaidthat,’mywifeanswered.‘Ineedn’tremindyouofthatterribletieyouboughtyesterday.’‘Ifinditbeautiful,’Isaid.‘Amancanneverhavetoomanyties.’‘Andawomancan’thavetoomanyhats,’sheanswered.Theminuteslaterwewalkedoutoftheshoptogether.Mywifewaswearingahatthatlookedlikealighthouse!31NotverymusicalAswehadhadalongwalkthroughoneofthemarketsofOldDelhi,westoppedatasquaretohavearest.Afteratime,wenoticedasnakecharmerwithtwolargebasketsattheothersideofthesquare,sowesenttohavealookathim.Assoonashesawus,hepickedupalongpipewhichwascoveredwithcoinsandopenedoneofthebaskets.Whenhebegantoplayatune,wehadourfirstglimpseofthesnake.Itroseoutofthebasketandbegantofollowthemovementsofthepipe.Wewereverymuchsurprisedwhenthesnakecharmersuddenlybegantoplayjazzandmodernpopsongs.Thesnake,however,continuedto‘dance’slowly.ItobviouslycouldnottellthedifferencebetweenIndianmusicandjazz!32.overthesouthpolein1929,threeyearsafterhislightoverthenorthpole,theAmericanexplorer,R.E.Byrd,successfullyflewoverthesouthpoleforthefirsttime.Though,atfirst,byrdandhismenwereabletotakeagreatmanyphotographsofthemountainsthatlaybelow,theysoonranintoserioustrouble.Atonepoint,itseemedcertainthattheirplanewouldcrash.Itcouldonlygetoverthemountainifitroseto10000feet.Byrdatonceorderedhismentothrowouttwoheavyfoodsacks.Theplanewasthenabletoriseanditclearedthemountainsby400feet.Byrdnowknewthathewouldbeabletoreachthesouthpolewhichwas300milesaway,fortherewerenomoremountainsinsight.Theaircraftwasabletoflyovertheendlesswhiteplainswithoutdifficulty.33.throughtheforestmrs.Annesterlingdidnotthinkoftheriskshewastakingwhensheranthroughaforestaftertwomen.Theyhadrusheduptoherwhileshewashavingapicnicattheedgeofaforestwithherchildrenandtriedtostealherhandbag.Inthestruggle,thestrapbrokeand,withthebagintheirpossession,bothmenstartedrunningthroughthetrees.Mrs.Sterlinggotsoangrythatsheranafterthem.Shewassoonoutofbreath,butshecontinuedtorun.Whenshecaughtupwiththem,shesawthattheyhadsatdownandweregoingthroughthecontentsofthebag,sosheranstraightatthem.Themengotsuchafrightthattheydroppedthebagandranaway.“thestrapneedsmending,”saidsterlinglater,“buttheydidn’tstealanything.”34.aclearconscienceThewholevillagesoonlearntthatalargesumofmoneyhadbeenlost.SamBenton,thelocalbutcher,hadlosthiswalletwhiletakinghissavingstothepostoffice.Samwassurethatthewalletmusthavebeenfoundbyoneofthevillagers,butitwasnotreturnedtohim.Threemonthspassed,andthenonemorning,samfoundhiswalletoutsidehisfrontdoor.Ithadbeenwrappedupinnewspaperanditcontainedhalfthemoneyhehadlost,togetherwithanotewhichsaid:“athief,yes,butonly50percentathief!”Twomonthslater,somemoremoneywassenttosamwithanothernote:“only25percentathiefnow!”Intime,allsam’smoneywaspaidbackinthisway.Thelastn