out to hurry away, but
Phil said resolutely:

"You can't deceive me, Mr. Lake. Give me that money, or I will call a
policeman."

Now, it happened that a policeman was passing just outside, and Lake
could see him.

"This is an infamous outrage!" he said, "but I have an important
appointment, and can't be detained. Take the money. I give it to you in
charity."

Phil gladly received and pocketed the bank-note, and relinquishing his
hold of Mr. Lake, rejoined Dick, who had been an interested eye-witness
of the interview.

"I see you've got pluck," said Dick. "What's it all about?"

Phil told him.

"I ain't a bit s'prised," said Dick. "I could tell by his looks that the
man was a skin."

"Well, I'm even with him, at any rate," said Phil.

"Now I'll be getting back to the office. Thank you for your guidance.
Here's a quarter."

"You only promised me ten cents."

"It's worth a quarter. I hope to meet you again."

"We'll meet at Astor's next party," said Dick, with a grin. "My invite
came yesterday."

"Mine hasn't come yet," said Phil, smiling.

"Maybe it'll come to-morrow."

"He's a queer chap," thought Phil. "He's fit for something better than
blacking boots. I hope he'll have the luck to get it."

Phil had been detained by his interview with Mr. Lake, but he made up
for it by extra speed, and reached the warehouse in fair time. After
delivering the letters he was sent out on another errand, and during the
entire day he was kept busy.

Leaving him for the moment we go back to the Pitkin mansion, and listen
to & conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin.

"Uncle Oliver is getting more and more eccentric every day," said the
lady. "He brought home a boy to lunch to-day--some one whom he had
picked up in the street."

"Was the boy's name Philip Brent?" asked her husband.

"Yes, I believe so. What do you know about him?" asked the lady in
surprise.

"I have engaged him as errand boy."

"You have! What for?" exclaimed Mrs. Pitkin.

"I couldn't help it. He brought a letter from your uncle, requesting me
to do so, and offering to pay his wages out of his own pocket."

"This is really getting very serious," said Mrs. Pitkin, annoyed.
"Suppose he should take a fancy to this boy?"

"He appears to have done so already," said her husband dryly.

"I mean, suppose he should adopt him?"

"You are getting on pretty fast, Lavinia, are you not?"

"Such things happen sometimes," said the lady, nodding. "If