The latter smiled as he pushed on his way. "What would the old man have thought," he said to himself, "if he knew that I had the parson's bill in my own pocket? My friend Gerald, I have spiked your guns, as you will find if you undertake to make trouble for me. You are altogether too innocent. You are too good to play billiards, but you will find yourself in something worse. The next morning Gerald came to the store earlier than usual, for he wanted an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Tubbs. The grocer, unlike most men in business for themselves, generally was first on the ground and opened the store himself. It was a habit he had formed when a subordinate. He always rose early and had an early breakfast, so that this involved no self-denial on his part. Brandon, to give Mr. Tubbs an opportunity of speaking to Gerald, didn't come round till twenty minutes after his usual time. Gerald noticed that the grocer looked unusually grave, but was quite unprepared for what was to come. "Good morning, Mr. Tubbs," he said, in a pleasant tone. The grocer did not return his greeting, but said: "Gerald, there is something I wish to speak to you about." "Yes, sir. I wished also to speak to you." "I wonder whether he is going to confess," thought Mr. Tubbs. "What have you to say to me?" "I think a bank bill was taken from your money-drawer yesterday." Mr. Tubbs was amazed. What did it mean? Was it possible that the boy was going to make a clean breast of his dishonesty? "A bank bill was taken from the drawer yesterday," he said—"a five-dollar note." "I didn't know that it was a five," said Gerald. "I didn't suppose you had discovered it." "I am glad, however, that you have confessed the theft to me. Return the bill, and I will overlook your fault." "What on earth do you mean, Mr. Tubbs?" ejaculated Gerald. "You surely do not think that I took the money?" "Certainly I do." "Then, sir, you are very much mistaken," said Gerald, indignantly. "I was never dishonest in all my life." "Some one must have taken the money." "Some one did." "Who, may I ask?" "Brandon! I saw him take it from the drawer when he was putting in a smaller sum, which he had been paid for groceries." "This is shameful, Gerald Lane," said Mr. Tubbs, angrily. "It is not enough that you take my money, but you seek to place the crime upon an innocent man." "You are very much mistaken, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, pale but resolute. "I saw Brandon take the money with my own eyes, but I did not know that it was a five-dollar bill. How did you discover your loss?" "It was called to my attention last evening by Brandon himself." "He told you the drawer had been robbed!" exclaimed Gerald, in amazement. "Yes." "Then he must have done it to divert suspicion from himself. Probably he had the note in his pocket when he was speaking to you." ------------------------------------------------------------------------