o wring your neck!"
he said, wrathfully.

"Uncle Simon," observed John, significantly, "I guess you'd better not
act hastily."

"What a fool I was to put myself in the power of that cub!" soliloquized
the head salesman.

John saw the effect of his words and decided to follow them up.

"Don't you think you can raise my wages?" he asked.

"No, I don't. You will be lucky if you stay here till Mr. Flint comes
back. After that, I can't protect you. He will probably be angry to see
you back here. I shall have to tell him that I took you in temporarily.
Now I will give you some advice. If you want to remain here permanently,
turn over a new leaf, and work faithfully. In that case I can speak well
of you, and Mr. Flint may be induced to retain you."

John began to think that this might be good advice, and for a day or two
paid more attention to his duties.

"I wonder I don't see Andy somewhere," he said to himself.

"I am out a good deal, and I ought to meet him. He is probably hunting
up positions."

It was not till Tuesday afternoon that he did see him. Andy had been
sent to the St. Denis Hotel to meet a customer of the firm. As he came
out he fell in with John.

John was the first to see him.

"Hello, Andy!" he exclaimed. "How are you getting along?"

"Pretty well, thank you."

"I suppose you haven't struck a job yet?"

"Oh, yes, I have."

"You have!" ejaculated John, in surprise. "What kind of a job?"

"I am in a large real estate office down town."

"Did they take you without a recommendation?"

"No."

"My uncle wouldn't give you one."

"I wouldn't ask him for one."

"Who did recommend you, then?"

"Mrs. Mason, of West Fifty-sixth Street."

"I know. She is one of our customers."

"Yes."

"Probably she hasn't heard of your being suspected of pawning a watch
from our stock."

"You might tell her."

"Perhaps I shall," John said to himself. "What pay do you get?"

"Five dollars a week."

"I didn't think you would get a place."

Andy smiled.

"I presume Mr. Rich did not care to have me get another place."

"He thought you would have to go back to the country."

"I am better off than when I was in the jewelry store," said Andy. "How
are you getting along?"

"Oh, first-class."

"I hope you will be able to keep the place."

"I didn't know but you might be wanting to come back."

"I wouldn't go back if I had the chance."

John was pleased to hear this. He was afraid that Mr. Flin