“Why you insolent, rascally young beggar!” Mr. Wilson could hardly speak for rage. “That comes from taking vagrants off the street. You shall get out of this store, or I will.”
Ten minutes after, Will received a peremptory summons to the office.
He walked back with his most independent air, entered the office, and coolly helped himself to a chair opposite Mr. Leonard, who was seated alone.
“I am sorry, Will, that there is such a break between you and Mr. Wilson. I will have to support him. You must go,” said the merchant.
“What! for Gus Wilson? Not if I know myself. I wouldn’t stayed here a week, Mr. Leonard, if you hadn’t been a straight man. You suit me pretty well, and I ain’t taking no discharge!”
“This is nonsense, boy! You will have to go,” was the stern reply.
“I’ll bet my next year’s salary that Gus Wilson goes first!” said Will, setting his hat rakishly on his head.
“Come, there is enough of this,” said Mr. Leonard, rising. “I will pay you what is due you, and hope this experience may be a lesson to you in the next place you may get.”
“Set down, Mr. Leonard,” said Will easily. “May be you’re done; but I ain’t quite through yet.”
The merchant stood looking down at the independent boy with an air of surprise; he had not met such a character before.
“Well, the first thing is, that I ain’t only goin’ to spend my days here, but calculate to spend my nights here, too.”
“I mean that you have got in a lot of fine goods, and that the thieves are goin’ for them to-morrow night.”
“Mr. Fitler, the detective, don’t think so.”
“He be blowed! He’s good for straight work, but not good for a crooked job like this. I’m goin’ to be detective, and to spend to-morrow night in your cellar. There’s rats there that want to be smelt out. Set down,” he continued, as the merchant looked incredulous. “It won’t be my first night there. I’ve got something to tell you.”
Mr. Leonard’s incredulity changed to intense interest as Will proceeded to describe his former night in the cellar, and what he had seen there.
“Can it be possible?” he cried. “Why did you not tell me this before?”
“I was waiting for it to get ripe,” said Will, quietly. “Set still; I ain’t done yet.”
He proceeded with a description of his last evening’s adventure, and of his recognition of the parties concerned, though declining just then to tell who they were.