it also made Dick more careful than he might ordinarily have
been, and in this way worked for good.

The bookkeeper's assistant, a young man named Kassam, frequently ate
lunch with Dick, as his people lived at a distance, and he did not scorn
to bring a bite to the office with him daily.

There was a little room back of the offices where some papers and books
were kept, such as the big safe could not accommodate, and here the two
would often sit and chat as they disposed of their luncheon.

Pliny Kassam was a diligent fellow, who meant to make his mark some day;
he had a mother and a raft of little sisters at home, for whom he seemed
to entertain a sincere affection.

It was the similarity in their conditions that first drew the boys
together; for each of them had lost a good father, though Kassam's
people were in comfortable circumstances.

It was one noon hour when Dick had been with the bank about three weeks,
that his friend for the first time mentioned a subject that had a
distinct bearing on the messenger's personal affairs.

In the course of the general talk Dick chanced to mention the name of
the cashier, as having sent him upon a certain errand.

Pliny glanced around and unconsciously lowered his voice as he said:

"I'd advise you to keep your eye on Mr. Goodwyn, Dick, and when he asks
you to do anything make sure that you carry out his wishes to a dot. He
has it in for you on account of his disappointment about this position
he wanted for that nephew of his."

"I always try to do exactly as I am told, no matter whether it is the
cashier who gives the order or the bookkeeper. But I don't believe Mr.
Goodwyn would stoop so low as to try and injure a fellow who had never
done him any harm. I knew nothing about his nephew. The place was
offered to me, and as I had to work I accepted it only too gladly. I
hope Mr. Goodwyn will soon be as good a friend to me as anyone else in
the bank," replied Dick, earnestly.

"Oh! don't mistake me, now, old fellow. I wouldn't for the world hint
that our clever cashier would dream of doing you any harm, or trumping
up a false charge against you. Those things happen often enough in the
stories we read, but in real life very seldom. But there are other ways
of getting into trouble, you know."

"Just how?" asked his companion, puzzled and not a little worried by
the mysterious manner of Kassam.

"Well, suppose that something happened, as it frequently does, when
things