"Yes, sir," replied the boy, missing the point of the question. "I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it," mused Mr. Montgomery. "There are also several men in jail who would like to work in my bank--and I should as soon think of employing them as a Markham." "Sir!" gasped Fred, squaring his shoulders. But the president, the memory of Mrs. Baxter's affront to his wife rankling in his mind, revelled in the opportunity to excoriate the son of the man he had ruined. "I can only attribute your impudence in applying to me for a position to your ignorance of the fact that your father stole more than a thousand dollars from this bank," he continued. "That's not so, and you know it, Mr. Montgomery," retorted Fred angrily. "Perhaps you can tell me who did take it, then?" sneered the president. "Probably some of the men who come to the bank after hours," returned the boy calmly. Unconsciously clasping the arms of his chair, Mr. Montgomery scanned the face of the boy searchingly. But it was as guileless as a doll's. "Herring, take him away. You should have known better than to bring him in," stormed the president. "I only did it because I knew he was bright and needed work," apologized the cashier. "Well, he'll have to go among strangers, as his father did, if he wants to get any. No one will have him who knows him," exclaimed the bank president, as Fred, scarlet with shame, went from the office. It so chanced that the cashier had left the door of the president's room open and during the scene Mrs. Baxter had entered the bank. Hearing the loud voice of the president, she had listened and could he have seen the expression that settled on her face, Mr. Montgomery would have been alarmed. Remaining until she was satisfied the interview was over, she told the clerk she had merely called on some business with the president, and, as he was apparently engaged, she would call again. But instead, after making the necessary arrangements to leave her daughters with the Vinings, she telegraphed her attorney to meet her in Manchester, and took the first train for that city. CHAPTER XXIII FRED AT WORK Deeply humiliated, Fred felt like going home, then threw back his head and gritted his teeth. "I'll show Mr. Montgomery I can get a job right here in Baxter," he exclaimed, and, crossing the street, entered the town's hardware store, asking the proprietor for any sort of a job. "Don't want any one but a boy to run errands," replied the man. "I suppose that's beneath you." "No honest work is beneath me," rejoined Fred. "How much will you pay?" "Three dollars." "Raise me if I make good?" "Yes." "How soon do you want me?" "This afternoon at one o'clock." "All right, I'll be on hand." Proud of her son's pluck, Mrs. Markham gave her permission, and Fred was on hand promptly. And so ready and willing was he that before night he was assisting the proprietor in many little ways.