"I am much obliged to you for
wanting to help me, indeed I am, but I'd rather leave the thing as it
is."
"What will you do?"
"I hardly know yet. I'm completely upset and want time to think."
"You're not going to sit down and calmly submit to it, I hope?"
"Indeed I'm not. Mr. Mann has cast a slur on my character, and I'm
going to remove that, no matter what happens afterwards."
Richard washed his hands and put on his coat in silence. Frank Massanet
sat on the edge of a packing case and watched the boy thoughtfully.
"I wonder if Earle Norris has been discharged?" he remarked. "If any
one was to go he should have been the person."
"I don't know," replied Richard. "I'll try to find out as I go down."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know that either. I must think it over."
"Never mind; remember what I said before; you're in the right, so keep
a stiff upper lip," returned Frank.
When Richard went down he passed through the shipping-room. Earle
Norris was hard at work, sending off orders. He looked surprised, or
pretended to, as the boy entered.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, "Off early?"
"Yes, I am," returned Richard briefly.
"How's that? Got a vacation?"
"Yes."
The boy did not care to be further questioned, and so quickly left the
building.
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