boy.

"I am glad to see you, my young friend," he said, rising and offering
his hand to Ben. "Are you on a visit to the city?"

Poor Ben! His heart sank within him. Evidently Mr. Porter would
not ask such a question of a boy whom he had engaged to work for
him.

The young man saw his embarrassment and answered for him.

"That's rather an odd question to ask you new clerk, uncle," he said.

"My new clerk, Henry? I don't understand you."

"Ben, show your letter."

"That is a forgery," said the uncle rather indignantly.

Poor Ben! Manly as he was, he felt ready to cry.

"I am sorry," he said faltering.

"Have you any idea who wrote it?" asked Mr. Porter.

"Yes," answered Ben. "It's Sam Archer."

"In fun?"

"No, in spite. He is always glad to injure me."

"What can be his motive?"

Ben explained his relations with Sam.

"Do you need the position?" asked Mr. Porter.

"Yes, sir, I am poor, and can ill afford the money I have spent in
coming to Boston. Sam knows this, and it is mean for him, a rich
boy, to fool me so."

Mr. Porter was a kind-hearted man. More than once he had kept on
a clerk whom he did not need.

"Go into the store a minute, my boy," he said, "while I speak with my
nephew."

Of course Ben obeyed.

"What do you think of this boy, Henry?"

"I think very favorably of him. He seems honest and straightforward,
and I think he is smart."

"I like his looks myself; I wish we had a vacancy."

"We shall have very soon."

"To whom do you refer?"

"Frank Robinson is going to leave at the beginning of next month.
His father thinks it will be better for him to go to school a year or
two longer."

"So you would recommend hiring this boy?"

"Yes, sir; I have so good an opinion of him that I am quite willing to
guarantee him. If you will take him on immediately, I will myself
pay his wages till the end of the month, when Robinson leaves."

"Bravo, Henry! That shows a kind heart. I won't accept that, but
will give you leave to help him outside as much as you please."

Chapter XXV

Sam Gives Himself Away

Ben was looking with interest at a row of new books when he was
summoned into the private office.

"My young friend," said Mr. Porter, senior, "we are not responsible
for the letter that brought you here."

"No, sir," said Ben. "I am sorry to have troubled you. I'll go home
this afternoon."

He looked sober enough, poor Ben, for it would not be pleasant
f