desk, picking his teeth. He looked like a man of leisure, with
little upon his mind.

"Hello, Mullins, old boy!" said Dick, pushing forward with extended
hand. "So you're promoted to boss?"

"Yes," answered the bookkeeper, showing his teeth in a complacent
smile. "Can I sell you a house this morning?"

"Well, not exactly. I'm not quite up to that in the present state of my
funds. If you have on your list a one-story shanty on the rocks near
Central Park I may invest."

"Cash down, or do you want to have part of the purchase money on
mortgage?"

Then both laughed, and Ralston made a playful dig at Mullins' ribs.

Chester could not help hearing the conversation. He saw in it a proof
of the friendly relations between the two. This, so far as he knew, was
the first visit made by Ralston to Mr. Mullins. It was clear that the
bookkeeper felt that such a caller would injure him in the eyes of Mr.
Fairchild.

"I am glad old Fairchild is gone," said Dick Ralston, lowering his
tone. "Now I can come in freely."

"Don't come in too often," replied Mullins, with a cautioning look at
Chester. "It might----"

Chester lost the rest of the sentence.

"Send him out!" suggested Dick, in a still lower tone, but Chester
caught the words.

"Chester," said the bookkeeper, "you may go up to the Fifth Avenue
Hotel and ask at the office if Mr. Paul Perkins, of Minneapolis, has
arrived?"

"Yes, sir."

After Chester went out, Ralston inquired, "Is there a man named Paul
Perkins?"

"Not that I know of," answered Mullins, with a laugh.

"I see. You're a sharp fellow. You only wanted to get rid of the kid."

"Exactly. Now we can talk freely."

"That's what I came about. Do you know, Mullins, you are owing me seven
hundred and fifty dollars?"

"Is it so much as that?" asked the bookkeeper, anxiously.

"Yes; I can show you the account. Now, to tell you the truth, Mullins,
I'm in a tight fix, and my bank account needs replenishing."

"So does mine," returned Mullins, with a sickly smile.

Dick Ralston frowned slightly.

"No joking, please!" he said, roughly. "I'm in earnest."

"I don't see what I am going to do about it," muttered Mullins,
defiantly.

"Don't you. Then perhaps I can help you by a suggestion."

"I wish you would."

"You are left in charge here during Mr. Fairchild's absence?"

"Well, suppose I am."

"And you handle the funds?"

"Yes."

"Then," and Dick Ralston bent over and whispered something in