e.

"Mr. Flint is on his way to Denver by this time."

"Does he go on business?"

"He has received news that his only brother lies there at the point of
death."

"How long will he be gone?" asked Andy, who began to understand that
this was likely to prove bad news for him.

"Probably not less than three weeks. Of course, I shall manage the store
while he is away. Did you hear that?"

"Yes."

"And I want you to understand," continued Rich, in a bullying tone,
"that I won't stand any nonsense from you. You will have to attend
strictly to business. I sha'n't be such an easy-going boss as Mr.
Flint."

"I always aim to do my duty," said Andy.

"You will find it best to do so while I am in charge. Now, don't stand
gaping there, but go to work."

Andy was moved to an angry reply, but thought it prudent to refrain. He
realized that for three weeks, and probably longer, he was to be at the
mercy of a man who evidently disliked him.

How he should be able to stand it he did not know. He determined,
however, to do his duty as well as he knew how, and not to reply when
the head clerk was insolent and abusive.

About an hour later Simon Rich gave him a postal, which he directed him
to drop in the nearest mail box.

It was addressed to John Crandall, Andy's predecessor, and ran thus:

"DEAR JOHN: Come around as soon as you can. I have news for you.

Your uncle,
SIMON RICH."

About four o'clock John Crandall entered the store.

"Andrew," said Rich, "you may go to the branch post office at Ninth
Street and get a dollar's worth of postage stamps."

Andy understood that stamps were not needed, and that the errand was
devised to get him out of the way. However it was his duty to obey.

When he was fairly out of the store, John asked, with some curiosity:

"What is the news you were going to tell me, Uncle Simon?"

"Mr. Flint has started for Colorado, and I am in full charge of the
store," answered Rich, with a triumphant smile.

"Golly! That's great news!" exclaimed John. "Now you can discharge that
cub and get me in again."

"I mean to, but you will have to wait a few days."

"Why need I?"

"Because I must have a good excuse for bouncing him. Mr. Flint will
inquire, you know."

"I should think it would be easy to invent one."

"Well, not altogether easy, but I have a plan. You see, the boy is one
of the goody-goody kind who has no bad habits. If I could catch him
playing pool, or anything