"Good-morning," said Mullins, smoothly. "Did you dine with Mr. Perkins
last evening?"

"Yes, sir."

"I suppose you went to the theater?"

"No; Mr. Perkins preferred to take a walk, as he has not been in New
York since he was a boy. Did you enjoy the play, Felix?"

"Yes, thank you. It was very nice. I am ever so much obliged to Mr.
Perkins for the money to go."

"Mr. Perkins must be a rich man?" said Mullins, interrogatively.

"I think he is pretty well off," answered Chester.

"How long does he stay in the city?"

"He was to leave this morning. He is going to Washington."

David Mullins was glad to hear this. It would make it easier for him to
discharge Chester.

He dispatched him on an errand, and was about to make some entries in
the books when Dick Ralston strolled in.

"How are you, Dick? Can I do anything for you this morning?"

"Yes; you can let me have a hundred dollars."

"I can't do that," answered the bookkeeper, with a slight frown.

"You'll have to settle up soon," said Ralston, in a surly tone.

"Give me time, can't you? I can't do everything in a minute. What is
the matter with you? You look as if you had got out of the wrong side
of the bed."

"I had a disagreeable thing happen last evening. Who should appear to
me on Madison Avenue but the old man."

"Your father?"

"Yes; he left a good, comfortable home up in the country, and came here
to see if he couldn't get some money out of me."

"Did he?"

"I gave him a quarter and advised him to go back. He seems to think I
am made of money."

"So he has a comfortable home?"

"Yes," answered Ralston, hesitating slightly. "He's better off than I
am in one way. He has no board to pay, and sometimes I haven't money to
pay mine."

"I suppose he is staying with friends or relatives," said Mullins, who
was not aware that Mr. Ralston, senior, was the inmate of a poorhouse.

"It is an arrangement I made for him. I felt angry to see him here, and
I told him so. However, he isn't likely to come again. Have you heard
from Fairchild yet?"

"No; it isn't time. He won't reach Chicago till this evening or
to-morrow morning."

"Meanwhile--that is, while he is away--you have full swing, eh?"

"Yes; I suppose so."

"Then you'll be a fool if you don't take advantage of it."

David Mullins did not answer. He repented, now that it was too late,
that he had placed himself in the power of such a man as Dick Ralston.
As long as he owed him seven