You are an orphan, I believe. Where do you live?"
"I board with the Massanets."
"Does Norris board with them, too?"
"No, sir."
"Where does he live?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"No, sir."
Mr. Mann gazed at Richard severely.
"I thought you two were good friends," he said.
"I hardly know Norris," replied Richard. "He is certainly no friend
of mine."
Richard felt that the present would have been a good time to tell what
he knew about the shipping-clerk, but remembering his half promise to
the latter he remained silent.
"You may go," said Mr. Mann, briefly; "but stop. Have you any keys
belonging to this place in your possession?"
"Keys? No, sir."
"Oh, all right."
"But--what made you ask that?" began Richard, considerably perplexed.
"I wanted to know, that was all."
"We have no keys of anything up in the stock-room," continued the boy.
"I know _that_. You can go to work," Mr. Mann snapped.
And Richard passed out.
"Either that boy is perfectly honest or else he is the most accomplished
actor I ever saw," thought the merchant when left alone.
"Well, what's the trouble?" asked Frank, when Richard reached the
stock-room. "I hope you haven't been discharged."
"No, it's not as bad as that, but I--I don't know what to make of it,
and that's a fact.
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