“As cashier! Then you intend to take my place, for I have done that part of the work for the last forty years, and I feel able to do it a while longer. Did my son hire you for this place?” “He did; and agreed to give me ten dollars a week, and my meals.” “Did he, indeed? Then he engaged to give you very good wages,” laughed the old man; and so did his companion in mischief. “I thought so myself; but, as your son offered me that price, I took him up at once,” added Wade. “Oh! I don’t blame you at all for taking him up; and I hope he will pay you what he agreed.” “He told me to go to work to-night, and take the money of the people who come in to supper,” persisted Wade. “I guess not, young man: I take the money myself. I never trust any one to do that,” said the old man, chuckling again. “Your son said you went home in the middle of the afternoon, and were here only in the middle of the day,” continued Wade, hoping to hit upon something that would move the old man. “I think my son did not know me very well.” “But he said he was the owner of this place, and that he only got you to come in and take the money till he could get a cashier that he could trust.” “That was rather mean of my son, to cut me out of the ownership of my own property,” said the old man, laughing with his friend. “He said he had to support you; but that he did not like to have you here, because you ordered him around just as if he was still a child,” said Wade, piling up the testimony as fast as he could. “Well, now, if my son talks like that, I shall not like to have him here; and between you and me, young man, I’ll bet I shall come out of it best.” “I’ll bet you will,” added the friend. “He wanted an honest cashier.” “And you are the honest cashier, are you?” “I am; and gave security for my honesty.” “I’m glad you did that; and I hope it will keep you honest as long as you live.” “I wish you would tell me where I can see your son,” said Wade, in almost pleading tones. “I have no son: I never had a son. My boys are all girls,” replied Mr. Flinker more seriously, when he saw the troubled expression on the boy’s face. “You have no son!” exclaimed Wade; and for the moment the blood in his veins seemed to be icy cold. It was terrible to think of; but he began to feel that he had been deceived once more. He had lost his money again: it was just his luck. “Young man, I don’t understand your case at all,” said Mr. Flinker in a kinder tone. “I saw you here at dinner with a man; and he paid for the two meals. You went out, and came in again. You sat down in the corner together; and then you both went away. That is all I know about you or the man.” “I saw the man talking to you when I came in,” added Wade. “True: he did speak to me about the price of meals by the week; and that was what we were talking about when you came in.”