w, for he did not enjoy spending an evening with his
aunt, the richer by five dollars, half of which was spent before the
evening closed at a neighboring billiard saloon.

CHAPTER X

THE HOUSEKEEPER SCHEMING

If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would have felt less confident of
her nephew's producing a favorable impression upon Mr. Wharton. She
resolved to open the subject at the breakfast table.

"I didn't know, Mr. Wharton," she commenced, "that you intended to
engage a reader."

"Nor did I propose to do so until last evening."

"I think--you'll excuse me for saying so--that you will find that boy
too young to suit you."

"I don't think so. He reads very clearly and distinctly."

"If I had known you thought of engaging a reader, I would have asked you
to engage my nephew."

"Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephew in the city. Is he a
boy?"

"No; he is a young man. He was twenty years old last June."

"Is he unfavorably situated?"

"He has a place as salesman."

"With what firm?"

"Gilbert & Mack."

"Why, that is the same firm that employs my young friend. It is a good
firm."

"Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives a very small salary. He
finds it very hard to get along."

"Your nephew is young. He will be promoted if he serves his employers
well."

"Thomas would have been glad to read to you in the evening, sir," said
Mrs. Bradley, commencing the attack.

"But for my present engagement, I might have taken him," said Mr.
Wharton, politely.

"Have you engaged that boy for any length of time?"

"No; but it is understood that he will stay while I need him, and he
continues to suit me. I have a favorable opinion of him. Besides, he
needs the pay. He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy, and
has a sister to support as well as himself."

"I am sorry," she said in an injured tone. "I hope you'll excuse my
mentioning it, but I took the liberty, having been for twenty years in
your employ."

"To be sure! You were quite right," said her employer, kindly. "Perhaps
I may be able to do something for your nephew, though not that. Tell him
to come and see me some time."

"Thank you, sir," said the housekeeper.

There was one question she wanted to determine, and that was the amount
of compensation received by Frank. She did not like to inquire directly
from Mr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the information from our
hero. Some evenings later she had the opportunity. Mr.