"Ah, it is the same old game! You will never see a cent of it again."
"But," said Walter, "I don"t understand. He is doing a good business.
I have had calls from two of his agents. One of them handed me this check," and he drew out the check Mr. Damon had given him.
The young man took it and laughed bitterly.
"I don"t believe there is any such bank," he said. "I never heard of it."
"Then why should the agent hand me the check?"
"To pull wool over your eyes. These agents are in league with this man Locke. That wasn"t his name when he engaged me."
"What was it then?"
"He called himself Libby. Libby & Richmond, that was the name of the firm."
"What made you think he might have changed his name?"
"Because the advertis.e.m.e.nt reads the same."
"And you really think it is the same man?"
"Yes, I feel sure of it."
"He will be back at one o"clock. If you will wait till then you can see for yourself."
"I"ll wait!" said the young man, grinding his teeth. "I will confront the swindler face to face. I will demand my money."
The door opened and some one put in his head, but before Walter or his visitor could see who it was it closed again.
Fifteen minutes later a telegraph boy entered the office.
CHAPTER XVIII
WALTER IS TURNED ADRIFT
"Mr. Sherwood?" said the telegraph messenger inquiringly.
"That is my name," answered Walter.
"A message for you."
Walter opened the note, and read as follows:
"I am called out of the city. You may close up at four, and leave the key with the janitor. Report for duty to-morrow morning. LOCKE."
"What is it?" asked the young man eagerly.
Walter showed him the note.
"It looks to me like some trick," said the stranger.
"But I don"t see any object in it."
"He has your thirty dollars."
"And I have a check for over two hundred."
"I would rather have the thirty dollars. What shall you do?"
"There is nothing to do but follow directions."
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
"Then you will come round to-morrow morning?" he said.
"Certainly."
"I"ll look in upon you. I want to see this Mr. Locke, though I doubt if that is his name."
Walter was disposed to think the young man too suspicious. He was of a sanguine temperament, and he tried to persuade himself that there was really no good reason to suspect Mr. Locke of unfair dealing. He laid considerable stress upon the favorable reports of the agents who had called upon him during the day.
At length four o"clock came, and he closed up the office, leaving the key with the janitor. He went home, not quite knowing whether he was to be congratulated or not. He decided not to say anything just yet about his engagement, lest it might turn out to be deceptive. Had he been quite sure that it was substantial and to be relied upon, he would have written to his guardian to announce the good news, but he thought it best to wait.
The next morning he went to the office, arriving at the hour agreed upon.
"Please give me the key to Locke & Green"s office," he said to the janitor.
"Mr. Locke"s given up the room," was the startling reply.
Walter was dismayed.
"Given up the room! Have you seen him?" he inquired.
"Yes."
"When?"
"He called yesterday afternoon, an hour after you went away, and got the key from me. In about ten minutes he came down again, carrying a ledger in his hand.
""I have taken another office," he said. "This is not large enough for me."
""Have you told your clerk?" I asked him.
""Yes, I have sent a message to him," he replied carelessly."