"No, but I am expecting him home from work every minute. Will you come in, or shall I give him your message?"
"Perhaps I had better see him, if it won"t inconvenience you."
"Oh, no, if you will excuse my poor rooms," said Mrs. Long, pleasantly.
"I am poor myself, and am not used to fine rooms."
"Take the rocking-chair," said Mrs. Long, offering him the best chair in the room. "If you will excuse me, I will go on preparing my husband"s supper."
"Certainly. Shall I take the baby?"
"Oh, I wouldn"t like to trouble you."
"I like babies."
Chester had seen that the baby"s face was clean, and that it looked attractive. Babies know their friends instinctively, and this particular baby was soon in a frolic with its young guardian.
"I guess you are used to babies," said the mother, pleased.
"No, I am the only baby in my family, but I am fond of children."
I may remark here that manly boys generally do like children, and I haven"t much respect for those who will tease or tyrannize over them.
In ten minutes a heavy step was heard on the stairs, and James Long entered. His face was sober, for, after his interview with Chester Rand--he had not had time for a second call--he began to fear that he should have to pay his month"s rent over again, and this to him would involve a severe loss.
He looked with surprise at Chester, not immediately recognizing him.
"I come from Mr. Fairchild"s office," explained Chester.
"Oh, yes; I remember seeing you there. Has the receipt been found?" he added, eagerly.
"Yes."
James Long looked very much relieved.
"I am very glad," he sighed. "Mr. Mullins wouldn"t have believed me.
What does he say now?"
"He doesn"t know that the receipt is found."
"How is that?" asked the mechanic, puzzled.
"I found it after Mr. Mullins went away."
"Where did you find it?"
"In the clothes closet, just under where Mr. Mullins hangs his coat,"
added Chester, significantly.
"And you bring it to me?"
"Yes, it belongs to you. Besides, after what I heard, I didn"t dare to trust it in the hands of the bookkeeper."
"I see you think the same of him as I do."
"I don"t like him."
"You think he meant to cheat me?"
"It looks like it."
"I am all right now. What do you think I had better do?"
"Come round to-morrow, but don"t show the receipt unless Mr. Fairchild is in the office. He is a very different man from Mr. Mullins. The bookkeeper might still play a trick upon you?"
"I believe you"re right. Shall I tell him how you found and gave me back the receipt?"
"No; let Mr. Mullins puzzle over it. It is fortunate he didn"t destroy the receipt, or you would have had no resource."
"You"re a smart boy, and I"ll take your advice. How long have you been in the office?"
"This is my first day," answered Chester, smiling.
"Well, well! I couldn"t have believed it. You will make a smart business man. You"ve been a good friend to James Long, and he won"t forget it. I say, wife, perhaps this young gentleman will stay to supper."
"Thank you," answered Chester. "I would, but I am to meet a friend uptown at six o"clock. It is so late," he added, looking at the clock on the mantel, "that I must go at once."
When Chester met his friend the artist, he told him of what had happened.
"That Mullins is evidently a rascal, and a very mean one," said Mr.
Conrad. "If I were going to defraud anyone, it wouldn"t be a poor mechanic."
"Mr. Mullins has already taken a dislike to me. If he should discover that I have found the receipt and given it to Mr. Long, he would hate me even worse."
"You must look out for him. He will bear watching."
"I wish he were more like Mr. Fairchild. He seems a fair, honorable man."
"He is. I don"t understand why he should employ such a fellow as Mullins."
"Perhaps he hasn"t found him out."
"Mullins will find it hard to explain this matter. Let me know how it comes out. I suppose Long will call at the office to-morrow?"
"Yes; I advised him to."
The next day, about twenty minutes after twelve, James Long entered the office. He looked about him anxiously, and, to his relief, saw that Mr.
Fairchild was present. He went up to the table where the broker was seated.