ou learned. All boys smoke in the city."

"I don't think I should like it."

"Oh, nonsense! Just try one for my sake."

"Thank you, Felix. You are very kind, but I promised mother I wouldn't
smoke."

"Your mother lives in the country, doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"Then she won't know it."

"That will make no difference. I made the promise, and I mean to keep
it," said Chester, firmly.

"Oh, well, suit yourself. What a muff he is!" thought Felix. "However,
he'll soon break over his virtuous resolutions. Do you know," he
continued, changing the subject, "that you have got the situation I was
after?"

"I think I heard Mr. Mullins say something about it. I am sorry if I
have stood in your way."

"Oh, if it hadn't been you it would have been some other boy. How do
you think you shall like the city?"

"Very much, I think."

"What pay do you get?"

"Five dollars a week."

"You can't live on that."

"I will try to."

"Of course, it is different with me. I should have lived at home.
You'll have to run into debt."

"I will try not to."

"Where do you live?"

"I am staying with a friend--Mr. Conrad, an artist--just now, but I
shall soon get a boarding place."

"I live on Eighty-sixth Street--in a flat. My father is in the custom
house."

"How long has your cousin--Mr. Mullins--been in this office?"

"About five years. He's awfully smart, cousin David is. It's he that
runs the business. Mr. Fairchild is no sort of a business man."

Chester wondered how, under the circumstances, Mr. Mullins should not
have influence enough to secure the situation of office boy for Felix.

They soon reached Bleecker Street. Chester took notice of the way in
order that he might know it again. He was sharp and observing, and
meant to qualify himself for his position as soon as possible.

At five o'clock the office was vacated. Chester remained to sweep up. A
piece of paper on the floor attracted his attention. He picked it up
and found, to his surprise, that it was James Long's missing receipt.
It was on the floor of the clothes closet, and he judged that it had
dropped from the bookkeeper's pocket.

What should he do with it?

CHAPTER XIV.

THE TABLES TURNED.

Under ordinary circumstances, Chester would have handed the receipt to
the bookkeeper, but he was convinced that it was the purpose of Mr.
Mullins to defraud the tenant out of a month's rent, and he felt that
it would not be in the interest of the latt