"The chance is very slight; but it is well, of course, to make sure. I have been away to pass Sunday, and shall go to the store at once on my arrival. You can go with me. I will introduce you to my uncle." "If it is a trick," said Ben uncomfortably, "I shall be in an awkward fix." "Whether it is a trick or not, you can count on my friendship," said young Porter kindly. "Thank you," said Ben gratefully. About an hour later Ben and his new friend entered the large and handsome bookstore of Jones & Porter. Young Porter, as he walked through the store, received the greetings of his fellow clerks. "Have you adopted a boy?" asked one facetiously. "Yes," said Porter, smiling. "Where is my uncle?" "He is in the back office." "All right! Come along, Ben." Henry Porter kept on his way till he reached the back part of the store, where a good-sized office was partitioned off. Mr. Porter was writing at a desk. "Good morning, uncle," said Ben's companion. "Good morning, Henry. Have a good time?" "Excellent, uncle. Let me introduce to your favorite notice Master Benjamin Bradford, of Milltown." Mr. Porter did not consider it beneath his dignity to be polite even to a boy. "I am glad to see you, my young friend," he said, rising and offering his hand to Ben. "Are you on a visit to the city?" Poor Ben! His heart sank within him. Evidently Mr. Porter would not ask such a question of a boy whom he had engaged to work for him. The young man saw his embarrassment and answered for him. "That's rather an odd question to ask you new clerk, uncle," he said. "My new clerk, Henry? I don't understand you." "Ben, show your letter." "That is a forgery," said the uncle rather indignantly. Poor Ben! Manly as he was, he felt ready to cry. "I am sorry," he said faltering. "Have you any idea who wrote it?" asked Mr. Porter. "Yes," answered Ben. "It's Sam Archer." "In fun?" "No, in spite. He is always glad to injure me." "What can be his motive?" Ben explained his relations with Sam. "Do you need the position?" asked Mr. Porter. "Yes, sir, I am poor, and can ill afford the money I have spent in coming to Boston. Sam knows this, and it is mean for him, a rich boy, to fool me so." Mr. Porter was a kind-hearted man. More than once he had kept on a clerk whom he did not need. "Go into the store a minute, my boy," he said, "while I speak with my nephew." Of course Ben obeyed. "What do you think of this boy, Henry?" "I think very favorably of him. He seems honest and straightforward, and I think he is smart." "I like his looks myself; I wish we had a vacancy." "We shall have very soon." "To whom do you refer?" "Frank Robinson is going to leave at the beginning of next month. His father thinks it will be better for him to go to school a year or two longer." "So you would recommend hiring this boy?"