"You needn't enter them on that book, Phil," said the junior partner; "I don't believe in that book, and I won't have anything to do with it. File them away, and don't say anything about them to any one." Of course I obeyed my orders, but I confess that I began to think something was wrong. The Whippleton idea of honesty was not very high. The cash amounts of these invoices had been paid, and I supposed the lumber had been received in the yard. But Mr. Whippleton was a partner in the concern, and he could not mean to cheat himself. My curiosity was excited, but as a clerk I had no right to meddle with what did not concern me. When I went to bed that night I could not sleep, for my mind would dwell upon the mysterious invoices. I heard the clock on a church strike twelve, and still I was awake. A few minutes later I heard a knock at my door. Mrs. Whippleton had been sick for a week, and I found that the summons came from her nurse. The landlady was worse, and she wanted to see me at once. I hastily dressed myself, and went to her. "Phil, I know you are honest; everybody says so. I want to see you," said she, as I entered. I could not imagine what my honesty had to do with the matter, but I waited for an explanation. CHAPTER XI. IN WHICH PHIL TAKES CHARGE OF MRS. WHIPPLETON'S EARTHLY TREASURE. I had not seen Mrs. Whippleton for a week, during which time she had been confined to her room, and I was surprised at the change which had taken place in her during that time. She appeared to have lost one half of her flesh, and her face was very thin and pale. "I didn't like to call you up at this time of night, Philip, but I wanted to see you very bad," said she, in feeble tones. "I'm a very sick woman." "I hope you will get better," I answered. "I hope so too, but there's no knowin'." "I didn't know you were very sick." "Perhaps I hain't been till to-day. The doctor looked kind o' anxious to-night when he came; and I've been a good deal worried." "You must be calm, Mrs. Whippleton." "I try to be, but I can't; and I don't think anybody could in my situation. I don't know but I'm goin' to die." "Let us hope not. But I trust you are prepared to die," I added, with due solemnity; for I confess that the dreadful thing about her case was the idea of being hurried into eternity with only the worldly wisdom she had preached to me to sustain her in the trying ordeal. "No, I'm not prepared to die. I've got thirty thousand dollars--" "I wouldn't trouble myself about money, Mrs. Whippleton," I interposed. "That's what I wanted to see you for," said she, looking at me with apparent astonishment. "Do not think of business while you are sick, Mrs. Whippleton." "But I must think of it. I have felt so bad today, that I didn't know as I should get well." "So much the more need, then, of thinking of other things than money." "I suppose you think I'm a very great sinner," she added.