Chapter 34

THE BROKER�S RETURN.

About ten o�clock, on the morning of his arrival, Mr. Sands entered his office. He had kept the run of the business through letters from Mr. Moore, the book-keeper; but the latter had omitted to mention Gilbert�s dismissal, and the reinstatement of John as his successor.

Mr. Sands was therefore surprised to see John in the office, with his hat off.

�Where is Gilbert?� he asked, abruptly.

John looked confused.

�He�ll tell you,� he said, pointing to his cousin.

�Have you dismissed Gilbert, Mr. Moore?� demanded Mr. Sands, abruptly.

Moore, in spite of his bravado, was a little nervous. He was apprehensive that he would not be able to convince Mr. Sands of Gilbert�s guilt.

�I was obliged to discharge him, I am sorry to say,� he answered.

�Why did you discharge him, may I inquire?� persisted the broker.

Simon Moore, himself of a haughty disposition, flushed at the imperative tone which his employer used. It chafed him especially to be so addressed in the presence of his young cousin.

�I don�t suppose you wish to have a thief in your employ,� he answered, hastily.

�Do you charge Gilbert Greyson with being a thief?�

�I do, sir.�

�Let me know the particulars.�

Simon Moore rehearsed the story, already familiar to the reader, of the ten-dollar bill found in the pocket of Gilbert�s overcoat.

�Did he admit his guilt?� asked the broker.

�Oh, no, he brazened it out; but the proofs were overwhelming.�

�Who found the bill in Gilbert�s pocket?�

�John.�

�Oh!� ejaculated the broker, significantly.

Simon Moore�s face flushed again.

�Let me explain,� he said.

�By all means; that is what I want.�

�Only John, who had come in to make a call on me, and Gilbert had been here. One or the other must have been the thief. I therefore asked Gilbert to search John, and John to search Gilbert. It seemed to me fair. The result showed who was the thief.�

�Upon this, you discharged Gilbert, and engaged John.�

�Yes, sir. I needed a boy, and did not dare to employ Gilbert lest there should be further and more serious losses. John being present, and understanding the duties, I engaged him.�

�John is your cousin, is he not, Mr. Moore?� asked Mr. Sands, quietly.

�Yes, sir,� said the book-keeper, looking slightly embarrassed.

�It was very fortunate for him that he happened to be at the office on that particular morning.�

Here John thought it time to introduce himself into the conversation.

�That�s what Cousin Simon told me,� he said.

�If John had not been here, I should have been obliged to advertise for a boy,� said the book-keeper, recovering his confidence.

�Have you seen Gilbert since?� inquired Mr. Sands.

�I have,� said John, grinning.

�Where did you see him? Do you know if he has another situation?�

�Oh, yes,� said John, chuckling; �he�s set up on his own account.�

�What do you mean?�

�T�other morning I saw him selling papers near the City Hall Park.�

�Humph!�

Mr. Sands said no more, but set about examining the books. Presently he put on his hat and went out.

�What do you think he�s going to do, Cousin Simon?� asked John, anxiously.

�I guess the storm�s blown over.�

�He didn�t seem to like it that I was here.�

�He don�t have a very high opinion of you; and I don�t blame him,� said the book-keeper, unable to restrain his sarcasm, although John was his cousin.

�Seems to me you�re pretty hard on me,� said John, aggrieved. �Do you think he�ll let me stay?�

�I think he will, if you do your duty.�

�Oh, I�ll do that fast enough,� said John, looking relieved.

�I advise you not to let Mr. Sands see you with a cigarette in your mouth.�

�Who told you I smoked cigarettes? It�s a��

�You�d better not finish the sentence. I saw you last evening on the street with one in your mouth.�

�I guess I�ll have to be more careful,� said John to himself. �Who�d have thought he�d find out?�

�I was just trying it to see how it seemed,� he explained.

�Well, you know now, and you�d better give them up,� said Simon Moore. �Now, go to the post-office for the mail.�

On his way home, in the afternoon, Mr. Sands was looking about for a seat in the crowded car, when a boy addressed him.

�Take my seat, Mr. Sands.�

�Gilbert!� exclaimed the broker, cordially, extending his hand. �I have been hoping to meet you.�

�When did you get home from Washington, sir?�

�This morning early. I was surprised not to find you in your accustomed place in my office.�

�I suppose Mr. Moore explained my absence?� said Gilbert.

�Yes; but I should prefer to hear your explanation. I should have more faith in its truth.�

�Thank you, sir,� said Gilbert, gratefully.

�It is hardly a matter to talk about in public. Have you any engagement this afternoon?�

�No, sir.�

�Then come around to my house, and take dinner.�

�What will Mr. Moore say?� asked Gilbert smiling.

�We will see to-morrow. Will you come?�

�With great pleasure, Mr. Sands.�

Mr. Sands lived in a pleasant house up-town. He had a wife but no children. His wife greeted Gilbert pleasantly.

�I have heard my husband speak of you,� she said.

Before dinner Gilbert got a chance to explain matters to Mr. Sands.

�I believe you,� said the broker, emphatically.

�Don�t rely too much upon my word, sir,� said Gilbert. �I want you to be thoroughly convinced of my innocence.�

�I am.�

�Still, sir, I should like to bring a street boy�a boot-black�to confirm my story. He saw John put the bill into my overcoat pocket, when I was out on an errand.�

�That is important testimony. I trust your word implicitly; but it may be as well to bring him round to the office, in order to confound those who have got up this wicked plot against you.�

�He is only a boot-black,� said Gilbert; �but I think he is trustworthy.�

�I have reasons with which you are not acquainted for believing him and you,� said the broker.

Gilbert looked curious, and Mr. Sands explained.

�I was present in an oyster-saloon, one evening before I started for Washington, and overheard Mr. Moore and John expressing their intentions to get you into trouble during my absence. This was the reason why I warned you against the book-keeper.�

�I remember it, sir; but I did not know your reasons.�

�Now, tell me how you have got along, being suddenly deprived of your income. John told me he saw you selling papers near City Hall Park one day.�

�It is true, sir. I could make something that way, and so I tried it.�

�I respect you the more for it. Have you kept up this employment till now?�

�No, sir. Mr. Vivian has engaged me as tutor for his son, at a salary of ten dollars per week.�

�Is it possible? That is remarkable, considering your youth.�

�It was to help me, sir, I have no doubt.�

�You must be a good scholar.�

�Not necessarily; Fred is only just beginning Latin, and it does not require much learning to teach him.�

�If your time is so profitably occupied, I suppose I can�t induce you to come back into my office.�

�I should be very glad to do so, sir. I only give my evenings to Fred Vivian.�

�Then you may come back to-morrow, at a salary of seven dollars a week.�

�You are very kind, sir. I fear I shall not earn so much.�

�That is my lookout. Come to-morrow, at quarter-past nine. If I am not there, say nothing to Mr. Moore about resuming your situation.�

�All right, sir.�

After dinner Gilbert went to Mr. Vivian�s, to meet his pupil.