ingly postponing work, Evan followed his old manager. He said he
knew Robb's boarding-house would suit him, so he went over to the hotel
and ordered his luggage sent up. Robb went with him; and, finding a
mistake of one dollar in the hotel bill, called the clerk down without
blinking. Evan thought he would like to be able to do that. He was
going to learn the art away out in Saskatchewan.

Robb's lodging suited his young friend perfectly. It was quite
central, just a nice walk from the bank. After dinner the two of them
sat in the living-room, smoking.

"This is going to feel like home to me," said Evan. "I don't see how
they can put up board like this for four dollars."

"Well, it will only last a month," replied Robb, and whispered: "Don't
tell anybody you're getting it so cheap; that's a secret between us and
Mrs. Greig."

"All right," Nelson promised.

Mrs. Greig played on the piano, at Robb's request, after the other
boarders had dispersed. She was a young widow, good-looking and
clever. Robb seemed to like her.

Before long Evan showed signs of restlessness.

"I'll go on down, Mr. Robb," he said, "you can come later, if you wish."

Robb consented. Mrs. Greig's music seemed more suited to a man of
forty-two than to one of nineteen, anyway. But the elder clerk was not
long in putting in an appearance at the bank. He found the cash-book
man in a state of siege. Evan was, in fact, hemmed in on all sides by
warlike figures, obstinate and invincible.

Several clerks were working at "night jobs." They looked sideways at
Robb and Nelson working with their heads together over at the cash-book
desk.

"Sam's taken a notion to Banfield, I guess," said Marks, who was still
out in the morning's clearing.

"You boneheaded mutt!" cried Cantel, glaring at his desk-mate.

"What's the matter with you--did you ever see an ex-manager come back
to help the cash-book before? Next time we have to tick off we'll
press him into our service."

"Get wise," returned Cantel, "or I'll press your mitts into service.
Do you see that?"

He held up a cheque, which at first glance looked like $3.74. Its
resemblance to that amount had caused all the trouble: the cheque was
for $37.40.

"Every cent of our difference!" exclaimed Marks. "By heck, let's all
go out and celebrate."

Accepting his suggestion as an invitation, the other "C" man, a junior,
and a "supplementary" man banged their books shut and accompanied M