"I only gave him a chance to carry out some of his benevolent ideas, and save a capable waiter at the same time," answered Theodore, dryly. "But he is evidently too much engrossed with his Orphans' Home to be alive to his own interests." "So you contemplate a speedy removal of Tommy from the Euclid House, do you?" said Mr. Stephens, reflectively. "Yes, sir. Just as soon as I can secure him a position elsewhere." "Can McPherson take him?" "Hardly. He has a case now not unlike Tommy's in which he is deeply interested, and which occupies all his leisure time." "Can you make him useful here?" said Mr. Stephens, thoughtfully, balancing his pen on his finger. "Useful? No, sir, I fear not--at least not just at present." "Can you keep him busy then?" "Yes, sir, certainly." "Then send for him," said Mr. Stephens, briefly, resuming his writing. Theodore turned suddenly and bestowed a delightful look on his employer as he said eagerly: "If there were only a few more people actuated by your principles we should need fewer Orphans' Homes." "Confound that fellow and his impudence!" said the irate Mr. Hastings, as he finished detailing an account of Tommy's exit from the Euclid House under the supervision and influence of Mr. Mallery. Pliny glanced up from his dish of soup, and opened his eyes wide in pretended surprise. "One would suppose, sir, that you were not particularly grateful to the fellow for his rescue of your daughter from an untimely grave," he said, demurely. "Untimely fiddlestick!" was Mr. Hastings' still more irritable reply. "He thinks he is a hero, and presumes upon it to intrude himself in a most insufferable manner. I have no doubt Jonas would have got along without any of his interference." Dora's face flushed and then paled, but the only remark she made was: "Papa, you ought to have been there to see." [Illustration] CHAPTER XXI. MIDNIGHT WORK. "Ting-a-ling-ling," said Mr. Stephens' door-bell just before midnight. Mr. Stephens glanced up in surprise from the paper which he was studying and hesitated a moment. Who could be ringing his bell at that late hour? Presently he stepped out into the hall, slipped the bolt and admitted Theodore Mallery. The young man followed his employer into the brightly-lighted library; it was the same room, with the same furnishings that it had worn that evening when he, a forlorn, trembling boy, had made his first call, and at midnight, on Mr. Stephens. "What unearthly business brought you out at this hour?" said the wondering Mr. Stephens. "Premonitions of evil," answered Theodore, laughing. "Do you believe in them?" And he glanced about the familiar room, and dropped himself into the great arm-chair, where he remembered to have seated himself once at least before. "What is the matter with this room?" he asked, as his eyes roved over the surrounding. "Something looks different."