efore the boy does
be here to-day, seein' it's Monday mornin', an' he'll be tired with not
workin' of Sunday."

"Ten minutes," repeated Paul, slowly. After a moment's thought he
continued, "Then I'll have to ask you to go out for me, Mike."

"I can go anywhere ye want, Mister Paul," the porter responded.

"I want you to go----" began Paul, "I want you to go----" and he
hesitated, as though he was not quite sure what it was he wished the
porter to do, "I want you to go to the office of the _Gotham Gazette_
and get me two copies of yesterday's paper. Do you understand?"

"Maybe they won't be open so early in the mornin'," said the Irishman.

"That's no matter," said Paul, hastily correcting himself; "I mean that
I want you to go there now and get the papers if you can. Of course, if
the office isn't open I shall have to send again later."

"I'll be goin' now, Mister Paul," and Mike took his hat from a chair
and started off at once.

Paul walked through the store with the porter. When Mike had gone the
young man locked the front door and returned at once to the private
office in the rear. He shut himself in, and lowered all the shades so
that whatever he might do inside could not be seen by any one on the
outside.

Whatever it was he wished to do he was able to do it swiftly, for in
less than a minute after he had closed the door of the office he opened
it again and came out into the main store with his bag in his hand. He
walked leisurely to the front of the store, arriving just in time to
unlock the door as the office-boy came around the corner smoking a
cigarette.

When Bob, still puffing steadily, was about to open the door and enter
the store he looked up and discovered that Paul was gazing at him. The
boy pinched the cigarette out of his mouth and dropped it outside, and
then came in, his eyes expressing his surprise at the presence of the
senior partner's son down-town at that early hour in the morning.

Paul greeted the boy pleasantly, but Bob got away from him as soon as
possible. Ever since the young man had told what had gone on in the
office when Bob was its only occupant, the office-boy was a little
afraid of the young man, as though somewhat mysterious, not to say
uncanny.

Paul thought it best to wait for the porter's return, and he stood
outside under the archway for five minutes, smoking a cigar, with his
bag at his feet.

When Mike came back with the two copies of the Sunday newspaper he ha