“Yes.”
“What business, and where?”
“Running a wholesale dry good store. No use saying where, ’cept you want to buy.”
“I want to know more of you, my lad, and to reward you for your kindness. Why will you not inform me?”
“’Cause most of folks think they know too much of me now, and I’m afeard that’d be your luck. And I ain’t taking rewards just now.”
Will was off without giving time for an answer. The old gentleman called a boy to him, and engaged him to follow his rescuer, and report at a place mentioned. Will was not going to escape his gratitude so easily.
CHAPTER IX.
THE TELL-TALE CLEW.
Mr. Leonard was in quite a serious mood as he sat that evening in the spacious library of his elegant home.
The room he occupied was charmingly appointed. Bookcases in rich foreign woods, well-filled with tasteful volumes, alternated with fine pictures and suggestive bits of statuary, gave the room an aspect which only combined culture and wealth could produce. A richly-colored carpet covered the floor. An elegant chandelier in bronze hung over the wide center-table, which was covered with delicate bits of ornament, utilized as ink stands, paper-weights, etc.