CHAPTER XXII.
JOHN CRANDALL SEEKS TO INJURE ANDY
Though Simon Rich had succeeded in reinstating his nephew in the storein place of Andy, he was not altogether happy. John Crandall wasnaturally lazy and inefficient, and his temporary discharge did not seemto have improved him.
When sent out on errands he loitered, and had more than once put hisuncle to considerable inconvenience. He obliged to admit to himself thatAndy had been more satisfactory.
In the midst of this experience John preferred a request to have hissalary raised a dollar a week.
"You know very well that I have no authority to raise your wages," saidhis uncle, sharply.
"Why not, Uncle Simon? You have taken me back on your own authority."
"And I begin to think that I have made a great mistake."
"Perhaps you'd like to have the country boy back again?"
"I am not sure but I would. He did not stay away so long on errands asyou do."
"I wonder what he is doing?" said John, starting off on a new tack. "Idon't suppose he can get a new place."
"If you see him, you might ask him to call," said Simon Rich.
"Why?" asked John, suspiciously.
"I may discharge you and take him back."
"In that case, I will tell Mr. Flint about pawning the watch."
Simon Rich looked at his nephew with anger, mingled with dismay. Hebegan to see, now, that to a certain extent he had put himself in John'spower.
"You treacherous young rascal, I have a great mind to wring your neck!"he said, wrathfully.
"Uncle Simon," observed John, significantly, "I guess you'd better notact hastily."
"What a fool I was to put myself in the power of that cub!" soliloquizedthe head salesman.
John saw the effect of his words and decided to follow them up.
"Don't you think you can raise my wages?" he asked.
"No, I don't. You will be lucky if you stay here till Mr. Flint comesback. After that, I can't protect you. He will probably be angry to seeyou back here. I shall have to tell him that I took you in temporarily.Now I will give you some advice. If you want to remain here permanently,turn over a new leaf, and work faithfully. In that case I can speak wellof you, and Mr. Flint may be induced to retain you."
John began to think that this might be good advice, and for a day or twopaid more attention to his duties.
"I wonder I don't see Andy somewhere," he said to himself.
"I am out a good deal, and I ought to meet him. He is probably huntingup positions."
It was not till Tuesday afternoon that he did see him. Andy had beensent to the St. Denis Hotel to meet a customer of the firm. As he cameout he fell in with John.
John was the first to see him.
"Hello, Andy!" he exclaimed. "How are you getting along?"
"Pretty well, thank you."
"I suppose you haven't struck a job yet?"
"Oh, yes, I have."
"You have!" ejaculated John, in surprise. "What kind of a job?"
"I am in a large real estate office down town."
"Did they take you without a recommendation?"
"No."
"My uncle wouldn't give you one."
"I wouldn't ask him for one."
"Who did recommend you, then?"
"Mrs. Mason, of West Fifty-sixth Street."
"I know. She is one of our customers."
"Yes."
"Probably she hasn't heard of your being suspected of pawning a watchfrom our stock."
"You might tell her."
"Perhaps I shall," John said to himself. "What pay do you get?"
"Five dollars a week."
"I didn't think you would get a place."
Andy smiled.
"I presume Mr. Rich did not care to have me get another place."
"He thought you would have to go back to the country."
"I am better off than when I was in the jewelry store," said Andy. "Howare you getting along?"
"Oh, first-class."
"I hope you will be able to keep the place."
"I didn't know but you might be wanting to come back."
"I wouldn't go back if I had the chance."
John was pleased to hear this. He was afraid that Mr. Flint might not besatisfied with his uncle's explanation, and that somehow the truth mightcome out.
"You must excuse me now," said Andy. "I ought to go back to the officeat once."
John returned to the jeweler's full of excitement.
"Whom do you think I met just now, Uncle Simon?" he asked.
"Andy?"
"Yes."
"Did you speak with him?"
"Yes."
"I suppose he is hunting for a place."
"No; he has got one."
"Where is he working?"
"In a real estate office down town. He is getting five dollars a week."
"I didn't think he could get a place without a recommendation."
"He was recommended by one of our customers--Mrs. Mason."
"I see. Well, that is lucky for him."
Simon Rich spoke indifferently. He was rather glad that Andy had found aplace, as Mr. Flint would be less likely to find fault with hisdismissal.
Not so John. He had never forgiven Andy for superseding him, and he feltaggrieved that he had so soon found employment. Thinking it over, therecame to him a mean suggestion. He might be able to get Andy dischargedfrom his present place.
As his uncle seemed indifferent, and might not approve of hiscontemplated action, he decided to say nothing about it.
That evening, after supper, he made his way up to West Fifty-sixthStreet, and sought out the residence of Mrs. Mason.
He rang the bell.
"Can I see Mrs. Mason?" he asked.
"What name shall I mention?"
"Say it is a boy from Mr. Flint's."
Mrs. Mason received the message in some surprise. What could a boy fromFlint's have to say to her?
However, she entered the parlor, where John Crandall was waiting to seeher.
"You are from Mr. Flint's?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"What business can you have with me? I have bought no jewelry lately."
"I know it, Mrs. Mason. It isn't about jewelry I wish to speak."
"What, then?"
"I met, to-day, a boy who was lately employed by our firm--AndrewGrant."
"Well?"
"He said you had recommended him to a real estate firm down town."
"I did so."
"Perhaps you didn't know that he had been discharged from our place fordishonesty."
"I begin to understand," thought Mrs. Mason, and she sat down andexamined John curiously.
"Did he steal anything?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered John, glibly. "He took a watch--a gold watch outof the case and pawned it."
"That was bad. And you have come up to tell me of it? You are veryconsiderate. Did Mr. Rich send you, or do you come of your own accord?"
"I came of my own accord. I thought you were deceived in the boy."
"What do you think I ought to do?"
"I thought you would take back the recommendation and get the boydischarged."
"Can you wait here half an hour while I consider what is best to bedone?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am." ("I guess I've put a spoke in his wheel," thoughtJohn.)
In about half an hour the door opened, and to John's amazement Andywalked in.
"You here!" he gasped.
"Yes; I hear you have been warning Mrs. Mason against me."
"I thought she ought to know that you were sent away from our store indisgrace."
"I have something to say to you," said Andy, quietly. "I have been tothe pawnbroker's, and got a description of the boy who pawned thewatch!"
John turned pale.
"I see you understand," Andy went on, "who did it. So do I, and so doesMrs. Mason. You won't make anything by your attempt to injure me.Good-evening
!"
John Crandall left the house without a word. He began to be alarmed.
"Suppose Andy tells Flint," he soliloquized. "No matter; he can't proveit."
But he felt uneasy, nevertheless. He did not say anything to his uncleabout his visit.