"
And with tears of indignation in his eyes, Richard left the office.
CHAPTER XXII.
RICHARD VISITS MR. JOYCE AGAIN.
"I'm discharged, Frank."
Frank Massanet dropped the books he held in his hands. "Discharged!"
he cried. "Surely, Dick, you don't mean it!"
"I do," replied Richard. "Mr. Mann has given me my wages for this week,
and says he wants me to leave at once."
"But how--what did he have to say? What did he accuse you of?"
"He had very little to say. He said I knew quite as well as he did why
I was discharged."
"But didn't he give you a chance to explain?"
"No; he wouldn't let me say a word. I tried to, but he shut me right
up."
"It's a shame," exclaimed the stock-clerk, indignantly. "I never thought
Mr. Mann could be so unfair." He hesitated a moment. "I'll do it; yes,
I will," he went on, half to himself.
"Do what?" asked Richard.
"Go down and have a talk with him. He's in the wrong, and ought to be
told so."
"No, no, don't go down!" cried Richard in alarm. "I could plainly see
that he was in a bad temper, and you'll only get yourself into trouble."
"I don't care, it's--" began the stock-clerk with flashing eyes, that
showed up well the force of character within.
"No, no!" repeated Richard. He would not have his friend get into
trouble on his account for the world.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149