“Has Mr. Keen gone home?” he inquired.
“I believe so.”
“Look here!” exclaimed Mr. Cutler suddenly, coming close to Tom, “why don’t you get out of here.”
“Get out of here? What do you mean?”
“I mean before Mr. Boise returns. He’ll probably find out exactly what you did, and then he’ll discharge you. If you go now, he’ll not have the opportunity, and you’ll stand a better chance of getting another place.”
“Why, that would be running away!” exclaimed Tom indignantly. “That would be like admitting I was guilty.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
“No, sir!”
“Oh, come now,” went on Mr. Cutler, in a more friendly tone than he had ever before used toward Tom. “I think I know all about how it happened. You felt a little grieved—perhaps because I have scolded you once or twice. You wanted to get even, and, when you heard that conversation about the dam, you determined to mention it to the lawyer on the other side. Of course, it was very wrong, but I don’t believe you’ll do it again.
“I want to help you, even if you did wrong. Now I’m advising you for your own good. You can leave now, and I’ll tell Mr. Boise you are sorry for what you did. He’ll forgive you, I’m sure. I’ll even help you get another job.”