that?" asked the mechanic, puzzled.

"I found it after Mr. Mullins went away."

"Where did you find it?"

"In the clothes closet, just under where Mr. Mullins hangs his coat,"
added Chester, significantly.

"And you bring it to me?"

"Yes, it belongs to you. Besides, after what I heard, I didn't dare to
trust it in the hands of the bookkeeper."

"I see you think the same of him as I do."

"I don't like him."

"You think he meant to cheat me?"

"It looks like it."

"I am all right now. What do you think I had better do?"

"Come round to-morrow, but don't show the receipt unless Mr. Fairchild
is in the office. He is a very different man from Mr. Mullins. The
bookkeeper might still play a trick upon you?"

"I believe you're right. Shall I tell him how you found and gave me
back the receipt?"

"No; let Mr. Mullins puzzle over it. It is fortunate he didn't destroy
the receipt, or you would have had no resource."

"You're a smart boy, and I'll take your advice. How long have you been
in the office?"

"This is my first day," answered Chester, smiling.

"Well, well! I couldn't have believed it. You will make a smart
business man. You've been a good friend to James Long, and he won't
forget it. I say, wife, perhaps this young gentleman will stay to
supper."

"Thank you," answered Chester. "I would, but I am to meet a friend
uptown at six o'clock. It is so late," he added, looking at the clock
on the mantel, "that I must go at once."

When Chester met his friend the artist, he told him of what had
happened.

"That Mullins is evidently a rascal, and a very mean one," said Mr.
Conrad. "If I were going to defraud anyone, it wouldn't be a poor
mechanic."

"Mr. Mullins has already taken a dislike to me. If he should discover
that I have found the receipt and given it to Mr. Long, he would hate
me even worse."

"You must look out for him. He will bear watching."

"I wish he were more like Mr. Fairchild. He seems a fair, honorable
man."

"He is. I don't understand why he should employ such a fellow as
Mullins."

"Perhaps he hasn't found him out."

"Mullins will find it hard to explain this matter. Let me know how it
comes out. I suppose Long will call at the office to-morrow?"

"Yes; I advised him to."

The next day, about twenty minutes after twelve, James Long entered the
office. He looked about him anxiously, and, to his relief, saw that Mr.
Fairchild was present. He went up to the table where