But the prospect before me of spending even a short while in one of the city station houses, previous to an examination, was not a pleasant one. I had known one young clerk who had done so, and was ever afterwards spoken of as having been to prison under suspicion.
"I won't go to prison," I cried. "He has no right to send me. Why doesn't he send Gus, too?"
"You come along," said my uncle sternly. "Didn't I tell you we would find out who was master?"
He took hold of my arm. As he did so Mr. Canning came bustling in.
"Hello, what's up?" he exclaimed.
My uncle told his story. The new partner listened incredulously.
"I can hardly believe it possible!" he exclaimed. "Yet many things are queer here, he added," with a peculiar look that made my uncle wince.
"And I'm going to make an example of him," went on my uncle. "Take charge of the office while I take the young rascal down to the police station."
"I will take charge of the office, but don't act hastily," replied Mr. Canning.
"Now come along," went on Mr. Stillwell to me. "And beware how you conduct yourself."