“You can do a number of things. What would be the best I cannot say. You might hire a lawyer to look into the case, and again you might have this Slocum arrested for locking you in the office. The loss of the packet complicates matters. Did it have your name on?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then you had better wait, and in the meantime advertise for the packet, offering a reward. That tramp may be watching for such an advertisement.”
This was sound advice; but Jerry had no money, and said so.
“I will pay for the advertisement and take it out of your pay,” said Mr. Islen; and the notice was written out without delay and sent off by the office boy.
The young oarsman now felt a trifle lighter in heart. He reasoned that the packet would be of no value to the tramp and that he would be glad to surrender it in hope of a reward. He did not remember at the time that he had written Alexander Slocum’s name and address on the outside wrapper; yet such was a fact.
When Jerry entered the bindery he found several pairs of curious eyes bent upon him from boys of about his own age. Without delay Mr. Grice set our hero to work.
“What is your name?” asked one of the boys, as soon as he had a chance.
“Dick Lenning. Say, do you know you have got the job Grice was going to give my brother?”