OLIVER LOSES HIS PLACE.
Oliver re-entered the store and went up to Mr. Bond, who was standing
behind the counter awaiting his return.
"Have you brought back the receipt?" asked his employer, before he had
a chance to speak.
"No, sir."
"Why not?" demanded Bond, frowning.
"There was some mistake, Mr. Bond. The letter you gave me contained no
money."
"Contained no money! What do you mean?" exclaimed the storekeeper.
Oliver briefly related the circumstances, repeating that the letter
contained no money.
"Do you mean to tell me such an unblushing falsehood," demanded Ezekiel
Bond, "expecting me to believe it?"
"Mr. Bond," said Oliver, with dignity, "it is just as I say. There was
no money in the letter."
"Silence!" roared Bond, working himself up into a premeditated
excitement. "I tell you I put the money in myself. I think I ought to
know whether there was any money in it."
"It is very strange, sir. I saw Mr. Norcross open the letter. If he had
taken any bill out, I should have seen it."
"I presume you would," sneered Bond. "I dare say he did find the letter
empty."
Oliver looked puzzled. He was not yet prepared for an accusation. He
attributed Mr. Bond's anger to his annoyance at the loss of twenty
dollars. He kept silent, but waited to hear what else his employer had
to say.
"I can understand this strange matter," continued Ezekiel, with another
sneer. "I am not altogether a fool, and I can tell you why no bill was
found."
"Why, sir?"
"Because you opened the letter and took the money out before you
reached the tailor's."
He was about to say more, but Oliver interrupted him by an indignant
denial.
"That's a lie, sir!" he said hotly. "I don't care who says it."
"Do you mean to tell me I lie?" exclaimed Ezekiel Bond, purple with
rage.
"If you charge me with stealing the money, I do!" said Oliver, his face
flaming with just indignation.
"You hear that, John Meadows?" said Ezekiel, turning to his other
clerk. "Did you ever hear such impudence?"
John Meadows was not a coward nor a sneak, and he had not the slightest
belief in Oliver's guilt. To his credit, he dared manfully to avow it.
"Mr. Bond," he answered, "I don't believe Oliver would do such a thing.
I know him well, and I've always found him right side up with care."
"Thank you, John," said Oliver gratefully. "I am glad there is one who
believes I am not a thief."
"You don't believe he is guilty because you are honest yourself, John,"
said Mr. Bond, willing to gain over his older clerk by a little
flattery. "But how can it be otherwise? I put the money very carefully
in the envelope. Oliver put it in his pocket, and when he hands the
letter to Mr. Norcross it is empty."
"Are you sure you put the money in, sir?" asked John.
"Am I sure the sun rose this morning?" retorted Mr. Bond. "Of course, I
am certain; and I am morally certain that Oliver took the money. Hark,
you! I will give you one chance to redeem yourself," he continued,
addressing our hero. "Give me back the money and I will forgive you
this time."
"Mr. Bond," said Oliver indignantly, "you insult me by speaking in that
way! Once for all, I tell you that I don't know anything about the
money, and no one who knows me will believe your charge. You may search
me if you want to."
"It would do no great good," said Bond sarcastically. "You have had
plenty of chances to dispose of the money. You could easily pass it
over to some confederate."
"Mr. Bond," said Oliver, "I see that you are determined to have people
believe me guilty. I think I understand what it all means. It is a
conspiracy to destroy my reputation. You know there was no money in the
letter you sent by me."
"Say that again, you young rascal, and I will give you a flogging!"
shouted Ezekiel Bond, now really angry, for he was conscious that
Oliver spoke the truth, and the truth is very distasteful sometimes.
"I don't think you will," retorted our hero undauntedly; "there are
policemen in the city, and I should give you in charge."
"You would, would you? I have a great mind to have you arrested for
theft."
"Do, if you like. I am willing to have the matter investigated."
It was evident that in attempting to frighten Oliver Mr. Bond had
undertaken a difficult job. He would really have liked to give Oliver
in charge, but he knew very well that he could prove nothing against
him. Besides, he would be exceeding the instructions which Mr. Kenyon
had given him, and this he did not venture to do. There was, however,
one way of revenge open to him, and this was in strict accordance with
his orders.
"I will spare you the disgrace of arrest," he said, "not for your own
sake, but for the sake of my esteemed uncle, who will be deeply grieved
when he hears of this occurrence. But I cannot consent any longer to
retain you in my employment. I will not ask my faithful clerk, John
Meadows, to associate with a thief."
"I don't care to remain in your employment, Mr. Bond. I would not
consent to, until you retracted your false charge. As to you, John," he
continued, turning to John Meadows, with a smile, "I hope you are not
afraid to associate with me."
"I guess 'twon't hurt me much," said John courageously. "I think Mr.
Bond has made a great mistake in suspecting you."
"You judge him by yourself," said Mr. Bond, who chose not to fall out
with John. "You may do as you please, but I can no longer employ a
suspicious character."
"Good-morning, Mr. Bond," said Oliver proudly. "I will lose no time in
relieving you of my presence. John, I will see you to-night."
"One word more," said his employer. "I shall deem it my duty to
acquaint my uncle with my reasons for dismissing you. I know it will
grieve him deeply."
"I think he will manage to live through it," said Oliver sarcastically.
"I shall also send him an account of the occurrence, and he may believe
whichever of us he pleases."
Oliver took his hat and left the store.
"I fear he is a hardened young rascal, John," Bond remarked to his
remaining clerk, with a hypocritical sigh. "My uncle warned me that I
might have trouble with him, when he first placed him here."
"I never saw anything bad in him, Mr. Bond," said John. "I am sorry he
is gone."
"He has deceived you, and I am not surprised. He is very
artful--exceedingly artful!" repeated Ezekiel, emphasizing the adverb
by prolonging its pronunciation. "I don't mind the loss of the money
so much as I do losing my confidence in him. So young, and such a
reprobate! It is sad--sad!"
"He does it well," thought John. "What a precious old file he is, to be
sure! I don't believe old Kenyon is any better, either. They come of
the same stock, and it's a bad one."
Before the store closed for the day, Ezekiel said:
"Shall you see Oliver to-night?"
"I expect to, sir."
"Then I will trouble you to give him this money--six dollars. I owe him
for half a week, and it was at that rate my uncle requested me to pay
him. Twelve dollars a week! Why, he might have grown rich on that, if
he had remained honest."
"I wish you would give me the same chance, Mr. Bond," said John. "I
can't rub along very well on eight."
"Don't ask me now, just after I have been robbed of twenty dollars. I
can't afford it."
"I wish I could get another place," thought John. "I should like to
work for a man I could respect, even if he didn't pay me any more."