``i am going to give you a few days' vacation,frank,'' said mr. wharton, a fortnight later. ``iam called to washington on business. however, youhave got to feel at home here now.''
``oh, yes, sir.''
``and mrs. bradley will see that you are comfortable.''
``i am sure of that, sir,'' said frank, politely.
when frank returned at night, mr. wharton wasalready gone. john wade and the housekeeperseated themselves in the library after dinner, andby their invitation our hero joined them.
``by the way, frank,'' said john wade, ``did iever show you this russia leather pocketbook?''
producing one from his pocket.
``no, sir, i believe not.''
``i bought it at vienna, which is noted for itsarticles of russia leather.''
``it is very handsome, sir.''
``so i think. by the way, you may like to look atmy sleeve-buttons. they are of venetian mosaic.
i got them myself in venice last year.''
``they are very elegant. you must have enjoyedvisiting so many famous cities.''
``yes; it is very interesting.''
john wade took up the evening paper, and frankoccupied himself with a book from his patron'slibrary. after a while john threw down the paperyawning, and said that he had an engagement. nothingelse occurred that evening which merits record.
two days later frank returned home in his usualspirits. but at the table he was struck by a singularchange in the manner of mrs. bradley and johnwade. they spoke to him only on what it wasabsolutely necessary, and answered his questions inmonosyllables.
``will you step into the library a moment?'' saidjohn wade, as they arose from the table.
frank followed john into the library, and mrs.
bradley entered also.
``frank fowler,'' the enemy began, ``do youremember my showing you two evenings since a pocketbook,also some sleeve-buttons of venetian mosaic,expensively mounted in gold?''
``certainly, sir.''
``that pocketbook contained a considerable sumof money,'' pursued his questioner.
``i don't know anything about that.''
``you probably supposed so.''
``will you tell me what you mean, mr. wade?''
demanded frank, impatiently. ``i have answeredyour questions, but i can't understand why you askthem.''
``perhaps you may suspect,'' said wade, sarcastically.
``it looks as if you had lost them and suspectedme of taking them.''
``so it appears.''
``you are entirely mistaken, mr. wade. i am nota thief. i never stole anything in my life.''
``it is very easy to say that,'' sneered john wade.
``you and mrs. bradley were the only persons presentwhen i showed the articles, and i suppose youwon't pretend that she stole them?''
``no, sir; though she appears to agree with youthat i am a thief. i never thought of accusing her,''
replied frank.
``mr. wade,'' said the housekeeper, ``i feel that itis my duty to insist upon search being made in myroom.''
``do you make the same offer?'' asked john wade,turning to frank.
``yes, sir,'' answered our hero, proudly. ``i wishyou to satisfy yourself that i am not a thief. ifyou will come to my room at once, mr. wade, youand mrs. bradley, i will hand you the key of mytrunk.''
the two followed him upstairs, exulting wickedlyin his discomfiture, which they had reason to forsee.
he handed his key to his artful enemy, and thelatter bending over, opened the trunk, which containedall our hero's small possessions.
he raised the pile of clothes, and, to frank's dismay,disclosed the missing pocketbook and sleeve-buttons in the bottom of the trunk.
``what have you got to say for yourself now, youyoung villain?'' demanded john wade, in a loudvoice.
``i don't understand it,'' frank said, in a troubledtone. ``i don't know how the things came there. ididn't put them there.''
``probably they crept in themselves,'' sneered john.
``someone put them there,'' said frank, pale, butresolute; ``some wicked person, who wanted to getme into trouble.''
``what do you mean by that, you youngvagabond?'' demanded john wade, suspiciously.
``i mean what i say,'' he asserted. ``i am awayall day, and nothing is easier than to open my trunkand put articles in, in order to throw suspicion onme.''
``look here, you rascal!'' said john wade, roughly.
``i shall treat you better than you deserve. iwon't give you over to the police out of regard formy uncle, but you must leave this house and neverset foot in it again. it will be the worse for you ifyou do.''
john wade and the housekeeper left the room, andour hero was left to realize the misfortune whichhad overwhelmed him.
frank arose at an early hour the next morningand left the house. it was necessary for him to finda new home at once in order to be at the store intime. he bought a copy of the sun and turned tothe advertising columns. he saw a cheap roomadvertised near the one he had formerly occupied.
finding his way there he rang the bell.
the door was opened by a slatternly-lookingwoman, who looked as if she had just got up.
``i see by the sun you have a room to let,'' saidfrank.
``yes; do you want to see it now?''
``i should like to.''
``come upstairs and i will show you the room.''
the room proved to be small, and by no meansneat in appearance, but the rent was only a dollarand a quarter a week, and frank felt that he couldnot afford to be particular, so he quick closed thebargain.
the next day, about eleven o'clock in theforenoon, he was surprised at seeing mrs. bradley enterthe store and thread her way to that part of thecounter where her nephew was stationed. she dartedone quick look at him, but gave him no sign ofrecognition. his heart sank within him, for he had apresentiment that her visit boded fresh evil for him.
