my rescuer.

"You seem distressed and tired, poor girl. This street is no place for
you at such an hour. You say you are in search of work?"

"Yes, sir," I answered faintly.

"Humph! Can you write?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Come to my office then, to-morrow morning, and I may be able to find
something for you to do. And now go home as fast as you can. Stop, here
is a trifle for your fare. Good-night."

He raised his hat in recognition of the grateful glance from my eyes. My
cheeks had felt like live coals as I took the coin he held out to me.
But I chose to continue the deception. It was harmless; and to disclose
the fact that I was other than I seemed would only make matters worse.
There was too, even while he was still present, an element of amusement
to me in the whole affair, which when he was gone, and I knew that I was
out of danger, speedily became predominant in my mind. Here was an
opportunity sent by Providence to supervise my banking scheme without
risk of discovery, if only I had the courage to take advantage of it.
The idea pleased me the more I thought it over, for I had little doubt
that Mr. Prime intended to find employment for me in his own office. I
felt that it would amuse me immensely to become a female clerk for a few
weeks and see the practical working of a business house, and above all
others of this particular one. I felt sure that I could prove myself
tolerably useful as well, thanks to my experience under Mr. Chelm; and
there was no knowing what might come of it all if I should develop a
taste for banking. The world's opinion to the contrary notwithstanding,
I might take it into my head to reveal my identity, and become an active
partner in the concern.

Even to such extremes did my imagination carry me before I reached home.
But I was clear in my mind about one thing. I meant to present myself at
the office in the morning, and if the chance were given me, to
apprentice myself for a while. It was indeed a strange freak of destiny,
that he should have been confronted by me with the same appeal that I
had heard him make so short a time ago. Perhaps it were better called a
strange freak of my caprice, for though of course my position was not
premeditated, the words that I said to him were necessarily suggested by
the analogy of the situation. I felt therefore an obligation to let his
humanity work itself out,--which gave comfort and encouragement to my
quixotism.

The only obstacles of seriou