"Is Mr. Fitch in the counting-room?" asked our hero of the clerk.
"Yes, but he"s busy."
"I will wait, then."
"Can"t I attend to your business?"
"I think not."
"Your business must be very important," said the clerk, with a sneer.
"I don"t know about that," said Jasper, composedly, "but I think if you will tell Mr. Fitch that Jasper Kent is here he will receive me."
"Is your name of such weight?" asked the clerk, with another sneer.
"Suppose you put it to the test," said Jasper, smiling.
The clerk had not seen Jasper when he called before and didn"t recognize him as the restorer of little Harry; otherwise, he would have treated our hero with more attention.
Influenced by curiosity he went into the counting-room and announced Jasper"s name.
"Bring him in," said the merchant.
Jasper entered, but the manner of Mr. Fitch differed greatly from what it had been when they parted four days before. Then it was cordial and friendly, now it was cold and suspicious.
"Good-morning, Mr. Fitch," said Jasper.
"Good-morning," responded the merchant, coldly. "You have been a long time returning from your errand!"
"That"s true, sir; but I would have come sooner if I could."
Mr. Fitch looked up in surprise.
"Do you mean to say that you couldn"t come?" demanded he.
"Yes, sir."
"What prevented you?"
"I was in close confinement."
"What! were you arrested?" and again the merchant"s face was overspread by doubt and suspicion.
"No, sir; I hope I shall never fall into the hands of the police."
"How then could you be in confinement? This is a riddle."
"The house to which I was requested to bring the money was a haunt of desperate men--burglars, I found out--and they were afraid I would betray their rendezvous. They mixed me some lemonade, which I now think must have been drugged, for I went to sleep in the middle of the day, soon after drinking it. When I awoke up I found myself in a dark room, in the centre of the house."
"Is this true?" asked the merchant, amazed. "Can such things take place within earshot of the police?"
"Yes, sir; there was no chance of my making myself heard; if there had been I would have called for help."
"How did you get out, and when?"
"Last night, at midnight."
"How?"
"I will tell you, sir. That, I think, is the most interesting part of it."
"Proceed."
When Mr. Fitch had heard Jasper"s explanation he no longer doubted him.
His friendly, cordial manner returned, and he congratulated our hero on his prompt rejection of Jack"s offers, though that rejection exposed him to continued imprisonment.
"Now," he asked, "what are your plans?"
"To get something to do," said Jasper.
"Of what kind?"
"Any kind."
"I will engage you, for the present, at ten dollars a week. Will that suit you?"
"Yes, sir. Nothing could suit me better."
"Do you think you can live on that?"
"Easily."
"Then that is settled. To-night you will go home with me. To-morrow will be soon enough to look for a boarding-place. Here are your first week"s wages in advance."
"Thank you, sir. You are very kind."
"I have not forgotten that I am indebted to you for the recovery of my little Harry. Here, Leonard."
The clerk already mentioned entered the counting-room. He looked inquiringly from Jasper to Mr. Fitch.
"Leonard," said the latter, "this young man is to be your fellow-clerk.
He takes the place of Victor, who left last week. Instruct him in his duties."
"Yes, sir," said the clerk, in no little surprise.
Jasper followed him out into the warehouse.