The youth was compelled to smile to himself. The book-keeper would, no doubt, be very angry.
"It was lucky I looked at the newspaper," Hal went on. "It was that saved me, and nothing else. Ferris overreached himself. I wish I could gain such an important point in that bond matter. It would be a great feather in my cap to recover the tin box and its contents."
A little later Hal went down to supper. Ferris did not appear, and nothing was said about the recent happening upstairs.
"Please keep it quiet," whispered Mrs. Ricket to him, as he was about to leave the room. "It will only hurt my reputation to say anything."
The next morning, when Hal arrived at the office, he found Mr. Sumner already there. This was most unusual, and the youth could not help but show his surprise.
The elderly broker was pouring over the books, but as soon as Hal appeared he put them away.
Hal had the inkstands and the pens in his overcoat pocket, and he at once handed them over, much to Mr. Sumner's astonishment.
"Where did they come from?" he asked.
"I will explain later," replied Hal. "Please put them out of sight now, for Mr. Hardwick is coming, and I wish he wouldn't see them."
Mr. Sumner promptly swept the things into his desk, and began to write a letter.