He toiled up to the fifth floor, and knocked at the door. There was a low "Come in," and he lifted the latch and entered. He was startled to see that Mrs. Benton had been shedding tears, and her husband was leaning back in his chair, with a look of sadness and despondency. "What is the matter?" he asked quickly. "I thought we could not be any worse off," said Mrs. Benton, tearfully, "but I was mistaken. To-day Mr. Lorimer discharged my husband." "What! in the middle of the week?" "No; he is to leave on Saturday." "But why is this?" "I will tell you," said Mr. Benton. "Do you know Mr. Benton's son, Julian?" "Yes; he is a very disagreeable boy." "I got into trouble with him to-day. He interfered with me in my work, and I reproved him. The consequence is that he spoke to his father against me, and got me discharged." "You can imagine what this means to us," said Mrs. Benton. "It was hard enough to live on five dollars a week, even with the help of the few pennies that Harry brings in, but now we must live on nothing. I don't know what will become of us." "But Mr. Benton may secure another position." "There is very little chance of it. No one is taking on new salesmen." "Nevertheless Mr. Benton can go to work next Monday in a store on Grand Street at a salary more than double what he is now getting." "Surely you are not in earnest?" "Quite so. I will give him a letter to Gilbert & Maxwell, and he will be set to work at once." "But this seems incredible." "I will explain it to you." "You are our good angel," said Mrs. Benton, when Rupert had concluded his account. "You come to us in our sorrow with the best news we have had for many a day." "Now, Mr. Benton, I have a proposal to make. I want you to hire a nice flat in a better neighborhood and take me as a lodger. I am willing to pay you eight dollars a month. For twenty I think you can hire a desirable tenement, which will only leave you twelve dollars to pay." "We shall be very much pleased to do so. If only we had a little ready money----" "I came near forgetting something important. I am the bearer of a gift to you from a good friend of mine, Mr. Sylvester, of Harlem. Yesterday was his birthday. He has given me a gold watch and chain, and to you he sends twenty-five dollars." Mrs. Benton's joy can be imagined. "You have indeed proved a friend," she said. "It is a satisfaction to me to feel that the malice of Julian Lorimer will be disappointed. If I see him to-morrow I shall not hesitate to give him a piece of my mind." CHAPTER XVI. JULIAN HAS TWO DISAPPOINTMENTS. Had Julian Lorimer been older, and in political life, he would have aspired to the position of a boss. He enjoyed power, and desired to have his power acknowledged by others. When Mr. Benton reproved him for interfering with him he felt outraged and determined to have revenge upon the independent salesman. Therefore he complained to his father, and a discharge was the result.