"I will do so to oblige you. If another such charge is brought against me I shall leave you at once." Here Mr. Barton made his purchase. As he left the store he said: "Call and see me, Gerald; we can talk this matter over." When the bank officer had left the store Mr. Tubbs said: "There seems to be a great mystery about this robbery." "Yes, sir," answered Brandon. "Mr. Barton seems to vouch for Gerald." "He is a good man, but not very sharp. He is surely taken in." That evening when Gerald went home he said to his stepmother: "Mrs. Lane, I have something to tell you." "Well?" she responded, coldly. "I am going to leave the grocery store," Gerald announced quietly. "What? without my permission?" she demanded, in displeasure. "Yes, Mrs. Lane." "What's your reason? Are you getting lazy? Are you tired of work?" "No." "Then let me know the cause of your determination. Not that I shall consent to it." "Mr. Tubbs charged me with taking money from the drawer." "Oh-o!" said Abel. "So that's what you have been up to. I suppose he has bounced you!" "Of course no one will believe it that knows me," returned Gerald, contemptuously. "I'm not so sure of that." "If your mother were not here I would give you a thrashing!" said Gerald, hotly. "Ma wouldn't let you." "All this is very discreditable, Gerald," said his stepmother. "I certainly did not think that you would descend to theft. Mr. Tubbs might have had you arrested." "I found a friend to speak up for me—Mr. Barton." "Has Mr. Tubbs discharged you, or is he willing to keep you?" "I presume he is." "Then you will go back," said Mrs. Lane, decisively. "I shall remain till the end of the week to oblige Mr. Tubbs, but I will stay no longer." "We will see about that. Now it is time to go to bed." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XV A STRANGE PROPOSAL GERALD had learned to look upon Mr. Nugent as a friend upon whose advice and assistance he could rely. On Friday evening he called at the house of his old friend and was cordially received. "Let me know how you are getting on," said the old gentleman. Gerald briefly recounted what had passed. "So your stepmother wishes you to remain with Mr. Tubbs?" said Mr. Nugent. "Yes, sir." "And you object?" "I don't care to remain with a man who doubts my honesty." John Nugent smiled. "Would you prefer me as an employer to Mr. Tubbs?" he asked, after a pause. "Very much," answered Gerald, brightening up. He wondered, however, what Mr. Nugent could have for him to do. There seemed no chance in his establishment for a boy like himself unless Mr. Nugent needed some one to work for him. Gerald was willing to do this, though he would have preferred some out-of-door employment. "Perhaps you wish me to do some writing?" he suggested, in a tone of inquiry. "No, I may wish to send you on a journey. Would you object to that?"