"I want to speak to you, Gerald," said Richard. "Mr. Tubbs has offered me a place in his store. I don't want to accept it till I learn whether I am depriving you of employment."
"No, Dick. I have given Mr. Tubbs notice that I must leave him."
"No; I am offered employment by Mr. Nugent."
"I am going to travel for him on business. You mustn't ask particulars, for the business is private."
"All right. Then I will accept; but I have told Mr. Tubbs he must pay me four dollars."
"He talked for an hour, but my father backed me up, and he will have to pay it."
Mrs. Lane and Abel made various attempts to draw from Gerald the name of the place to which he was going, but he steadfastly refused to tell.
"I don't know but I shall refuse my consent to your going," said his stepmother.
"In that case you will have me at home doing nothing."
"He has already engaged Richard Childs in my place."
"I wish I were going with you," said Abel. "It is awfully stupid in Portville."
"I will bring you home a present, Abel," said Gerald.
Abel brightened up. He was naturally an avaricious boy, and was ready to accept whatever came his way.
"Then I hope you'll come back soon," he said.
The train on which Gerald was to be a passenger was to leave Portville at ten o'clock. Gerald had an invitation to breakfast at Mr. Nugent's in order to receive final instructions and to be provided with money.
"I have but fifty dollars here, Gerald," said the old gentleman, "but I will give you a check on the Park National Bank of New York for a hundred and fifty. Probably that will be sufficient for you till you reach your destination."
"It seems to me a good deal of money, Mr. Nugent."
"Traveling is expensive, and it is not necessary for you to be economical. I want you to be comfortable. It will be best for you to carry your money in different places, not all in your pocketbook. Have you an inside pocket in your vest?"
"Yes, sir, but I never made any use of it."
"I will get my housekeeper to attach a button and make a button-hole, for better security. You can wear one of my vests while she is doing it."
"Shall I have any difficulty in drawing the money from the bank?"
"No; I will indorse the check and make it payable to you."
He drew a check for one hundred and fifty dollars, and indorsed it in this way. On the back he wrote: "Correct. John Nugent."