back your old place you won't take it?" said
Felix, anxiously. "If you don't, I think he'll keep me."

"Then I'll promise not to accept. I am better satisfied where I am.
Have you had supper, Felix?"

"No."

"Then come and take supper with me. I go out about this time."

"It had certainly been a day of surprises," as Felix reflected when he
found himself seated opposite a boy whom he had always disliked, as his
guest.

CHAPTER XXXII.

EDWARD GRANGER.

"I suppose you don't care to come back to the office, Chester?" said
Mr. Fairchild, when Chester called upon him the next day at the office.

"I like my present position better," answered Chester; "besides, I
suppose you are hardly prepared to offer me twenty-five dollars a
week."

"Do you receive as much as that?" asked the broker, in amazement.

"Yes, sir."

"I congratulate you heartily," said Mr. Fairchild. "It is clear that
you are too high priced for the real estate business."

"Felix tells me you may retain him."

"I will give him a chance. It depends upon himself whether he stays."

"I am very glad of it, sir. Felix has hardly been my friend, but now
that his cousin is away he may improve. I certainly hope so."

"What shall you do about Ralston?" asked Chester, presently.

"I shall proceed against him. Such a man is a curse to the community.
It was through him that my bookkeeper lost his integrity and ruined his
prospects. If he is locked up he will be prevented from doing any more
harm."

As Dick Ralston will not again figure in this story, it may be
mentioned here that he was found guilty in the trial that soon
followed, and was sentenced to a term of several years' imprisonment.

The bitterest reflection he had when sentence was pronounced was that
his confederate, Mullins, had escaped and was a free man. Rogues may
work together, but it is seldom that any tie of friendship exists
between them.

Chester was now able to save money. Including what he received from
Prof. Hazlitt, his income was about thirty-five dollars a week.

His personal expenses were greater than they had been, on account of
having a more expensive room. Yet altogether they did not exceed twelve
dollars per week, leaving him a balance of twenty-three.

Of this sum he proposed to send his mother a part, but she wrote that
the liberal board paid by Miss Jane Dolby covered all her expenses.

"I hope if you have money to spare you will put it in some savings
ba