CHAPTER XIV.
THE TABLES TURNED.
Under ordinary circumstances, Chester would have handed the receipt tothe 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 thatit would not be in the interest of the latter for him to put this powerin the hands of the enemy. Obviously the receipt belonged to JamesLong, who had lost it.
Fortunately, Chester had the address of the mechanic on East TwentiethStreet, and he resolved, though it would cost him quite a walk, to calland give him the paper. In twenty minutes after locking the office hefound himself in front of a large tenement house, which was occupied bya great number of families. He found that Long lived on the third floorback.
He knocked at the door. It was opened to him by a woman of forty, whohad a babe in her arms, while another--a little girl--was holding ontoher dress.
"Does Mr. James Long live here?" asked Chester.
"Yes."
"Is he at home?"
"No, but I am expecting him home from work every minute. Will you comein, or shall I give him your message?"
"Perhaps I had better see him, if it won't inconvenience you."
"Oh, no, if you will excuse my poor rooms," said Mrs. Long, pleasantly.
"I am poor myself, and am not used to fine rooms."
"Take the rocking-chair," said Mrs. Long, offering him the best chairin the room. "If you will excuse me, I will go on preparing myhusband's supper."
"Certainly. Shall I take the baby?"
"Oh, I wouldn't like to trouble you."
"I like babies."
Chester had seen that the baby's face was clean, and that it lookedattractive. Babies know their friends instinctively, and thisparticular baby was soon in a frolic with its young guardian.
"I guess you are used to babies," said the mother, pleased.
"No, I am the only baby in my family, but I am fond of children."
I may remark here that manly boys generally do like children, and Ihaven't much respect for those who will tease or tyrannize over them.
In ten minutes a heavy step was heard on the stairs, and James Longentered. His face was sober, for, after his interview with ChesterRand--he had not had time for a second call--he began to fear that heshould have to pay his month's rent over again, and this to him wouldinvolve a severe loss.
He looked with surprise at Chester, not immediately recognizing him.
"I come from Mr. Fairchild's office," explained Chester.
"Oh, yes; I remember seeing you there. Has the receipt been found?" headded, eagerly.
"Yes."
James Long looked very much relieved.
"I am very glad," he sighed. "Mr. Mullins wouldn't have believed me.What does he say now?"
"He doesn't know that the receipt is found."
"How is 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 totrust 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. Fairchildis in the office. He is a very different man from Mr. Mullins. Thebookkeeper might still play a trick upon you?"
"I believe you're right. Shall I tell him how you found and gave meback the receipt?"
"No; let Mr. Mullins puzzle over it. It is fortunate he didn't destroythe receipt, or you would have had no resource."
"You're a smart boy, and I'll take your advice. How long have you beenin the office?"
"This is my first day," answered Chester, smiling.
"Well, well! I couldn't have believed it. You will make a smartbusiness man. You've been a good friend to James Long, and he won'tforget it. I say, wife, perhaps this young gentleman will stay tosupper."
"Thank you," answered Chester. "I would, but I am to meet a frienduptown at six o'clock. It is so late," he added, looking at the clockon the mantel, "that I must go at once."
When Chester met his friend the artist, he told him of what hadhappened.
"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 poormechanic."
"Mr. Mullins has already taken a dislike to me. If he should discoverthat I have found the receipt and given it to Mr. Long, he would hateme even worse."
"You must look out for him. He will bear watching."
"I wish he were more like Mr. Fairchild. He seems a fair, honorableman."
"He is. I don't understand why he should employ such a fellow asMullins."
"Perhaps he hasn't found him out."
"Mullins will find it hard to explain this matter. Let me know how itcomes 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 theoffice. He looked about him anxiously, and, to his relief, saw that Mr.Fairchild was present. He went up to the table where the broker wasseated.
"I came about my rent," he said.
"You can speak to Mr. Mullins," said the broker, going on with hiswriting.
"I would rather speak with you, sir."
"How is that?" asked Mr. Fairchild, his attention excited.
"I will tell you, sir," said the bookkeeper, with an ugly look. "Thisman came here yesterday and declined to pay his rent, because, he said,he had paid it already."
"And I had," said Long, quietly. "I am a mechanic on small wages, and Ican't afford to pay my rent twice."
"Did you pay the rent to Mr. Mullins?"
"Yes, sir."
"When?"
"Day before yesterday."
"Then he gave you a receipt?"
"He did, sir."
"It seems to me that than settles the question. Did you give him areceipt, Mr. Mullins?"
"If I had, he could show it now. He says that he left it behind in theoffice here. Of course, that's too thin!"
"It is very important to take good care of your receipt, Mr. Long."
"Did you ever lose or mislay a receipt, sir?"
"Yes, I have on two or three occasions."
"So that I am not the only one to whom it has happened."
"Mr. Mullins, did Mr. Long come to the office on the day when he sayshe paid the rent?"
"Yes, sir."
"And he didn't pay it?"
"No, sir. He said he hadn't the money, but would bring it in a fewdays."
James Long listened in indignant astonishment.
"That is untrue, sir. I made no excuse, but handed Mr. Mullins theamount in full."
"There is a very extraordinary discrepancy in your statements. You saythat he wrote out a receipt?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is a pity that you can't produce it."
"Yes," chimed in Mullins, with a sneer, "it is unlucky that you cannotproduce it."
Then came a sensation.
"I can produce it," said Long. "The receipt has been found," and hedrew out the slip of paper and passed it to Mr. Fairchild.
The face of Mullins was a study. His amazement was deep and genuine.
"It must be a forgery," he said. "Mr. Long can't possibly have areceipt."
"You are mistaken," said Mr. Fairchild. "The receipt and the signatureare genuine, and it is written on one of our letter heads."
Mullins took the receipt and faltered:
"I don't understand it."
"Nor do I," said the broker, sternly. "Did you make any entry on thebooks?"
"I--I don't remember."
r /> "Show me the record."
Mr. Fairchild opened the book, and saw an entry made, but afterwarderased.
When the bookkeeper found the receipt on the table, a promising pieceof rascality was suggested to him. He would keep the money himself, andconceal the record.
"Mr. Long," said the broker, "here is your receipt. It is clear thatyou have paid your rent. You will have no more trouble."
Then, as the mechanic left the office, the broker, turning to thebookkeeper, said, sternly:
"Another such transaction, Mr. Mullins, and you leave my employ."
"But, sir----" stammered Mullins.
"You may spare your words. I understand the matter. If you had not beenin my employ so long, I would discharge you at the end of this week."
Mullins went back to his desk, crushed and mortified. But his brain wasbusy with the thought, "Where could James Long have obtained thereceipt?" He remembered having put it into the pocket of his overcoat,and it had disappeared.
"I was a fool that I didn't destroy it," he reflected.