"Not if you go far enough away. I shall want you to go to Chicago on other business which I will communicate to you. There you will have no difficulty in effecting the change." "I suppose I am to have a commission?" "Yes; you can retain fifty dollars." "That is small, captain," said Kirby, in a tone of discontent. "It may be, but I have other work for you to do which will increase your remunerations." "What sort of work?" "I have already told you of a boy in the village who suspects me of being implicated in the robbery." "Yes." "I mean you to take him with you." "What, and to abduct him? That will be difficult and dangerous." "No, you are to offer him lucrative employment, and he will go with you willingly. Then you are to get him into trouble, involve him in a crime perhaps, and he won't dare to come back. I learn from Brandon that he is anxious to obtain a position. However, I will give you detailed instructions how to proceed." CHAPTER XIV. DEAN IS ENGAGED AS PRIVATE SECRETARY. "Brandon," said his father, "I would like to have you call at Adin Dunham's with a note." Brandon frowned. He did not fancy being employed as an errand boy. "Can't you get somebody else?" he asked. "I wouldn't mind going to any other place, but I don't like to go there on an errand." "Perhaps that will overcome your objections," said his father, producing a silver dollar. "Thank you, papa, I'll go," said Brandon with alacrity, for he was always in want of money. "Who is the note for?" "For the boy—Dean." "Oh!" Brandon's face changed. "Seems to me Dean Dunham is getting to be a person of a good deal of importance," he said. "What is the note about? If you are going to haul him over the coals I won't mind taking it." "On the contrary, Mr. Kirby, our guest, is going to offer him a position as his clerk and private secretary." "And did you recommend him to Mr. Kirby?" asked Brandon, considerably disgusted. Squire Bates was sharp enough to understand the cause of Brandon's dissatisfaction. "I don't mind telling you confidentially," he said with a smile, "that I don't envy the boy who works for Peter Kirby." "Then it isn't such a great chance after all?" "I suspect that Dean will be sorry he engaged to work for him within a week. But of course you won't let drop a word to prejudice the boy against accepting Mr. Kirby's offer." "You may rely upon me, papa," said Brandon with a chuckle. Dean was reading aloud to his uncle when there was a knock at the door, which was answered by Mrs. Dunham. "Brandon Bates!" she said in surprise. "Yes, Mrs. Dunham. Is Dean at home?" "Won't you come in? Yes, he's at home." "I won't stop. I should like to see him a minute." "Dean, here's Brandon Bates wants to see you a minute," said his aunt. Dean shared in Mrs. Dunham's surprise. He laid down the paper from which he was reading, and went to the door. "Good-evening, Brandon!" he said politely, "do you wish to see me?"