ed to have a parting
word with you. Mr. Mullins is thoroughly acquainted with my business,
but within the last six months I found myself distrusting him. In four
weeks, for I shall be likely to be away that length of time, something
may occur detrimental to my interests, and I heartily wish I had some
one else in charge. I may rely upon you bearing in mind what I told you
the other day?"

"Yes, sir; I won't forget."

"I know that you are faithful, and I only wish you understood the
business well enough to be placed in charge."

"I wish so, too," said Chester, frankly.

"I think, however," Mr. Fairchild added, with a smile, "that it would
be hardly prudent to trust my business to an office boy."

"You are already trusting me very much, Mr. Fairchild."

"Yes; I feel safe in doing so."

Chester took the grip up the Elevated stairway and parted with Mr.
Fairchild at the ticket office.

As he went down to the street he reflected that his own position during
the broker's absence might not be very comfortable. Still he had his
employer's confidence, and that gave him much pleasure.

He had reached Harris' large store on his way home when a
rakish-looking figure, springing from he knew not where, overtook and
touched him on the arm. Chester immediately recognized him as the
gambler with whom he had seen the bookkeeper walking on the evening of
his first visit to the house of Prof. Hazlitt.

"I say, boy," said Ralston, "you're employed by Fairchild, the real
estate man, ain't you?"

"Yes, sir," answered Chester, coldly.

"Didn't I see him going to the Elevated station with you just now?"

"Yes, sir."

"With a grip in his hand?"

"Yes."

"Is he off for a journey?"

"He has started for the West."

"So? I had business with him, but I suppose I can transact it with
Mullins just as well."

"You will find him in the office."

"All right! I'll go there."

Chester turned his glance upon Dick Ralston and rapidly took note of
his appearance. He was rather a stocky man, with a red, pimpled face, a
broad nose, small, twinkling eyes and intensely black hair. He wore a
"loud," striped sack suit, and on one of his pudgy fingers was a
diamond ring. It was really a diamond, and he had often found it
serviceable. When he was in very bad luck he pawned it for a
comfortable sum, but invariably redeemed it when fortune smiled upon
him again.

He followed Chester into the broker's office. Mullins sat on a stool at
the