“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.
“What have you got to say?” he asked.
“Well, the first thing is, that I ain’t only goin’ to spend my days here, but calculate to spend my nights here, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you have got in a lot of fine goods, and that the thieves are goin’ for them to-morrow night.”