“I shall be late again to-night,” said Tom to his mother when he went home to supper.
“Late again, Tom? Why, what is the matter?”
“Well, we have some legal business to attend to.”
“Has it anything to do with my mining shares?” inquired his aunt.
“No; but if this goes through, they may make me a partner in the firm, and then I’ll take your case.”
All three laughed, for the little family was in better shape financially than it had been for some time. Tom’s wages went a long way toward supporting the two lonely women, and, with what sewing Mrs. Baldwin and her sister could do, they had no fears, at least for the present.
In accordance with the plan he and Mr. Boise had made, Tom concealed himself in the clerk’s room about ten o’clock. He wanted to be in plenty of time.
The big office building was deserted, except for the watchman, and there was no noise, save his footsteps as he went from floor to floor, ascertaining that everything was all right. Gradually it became more silent down in the street, as the traffic grew less.
“I hope he comes,” thought Tom, as he sat in a chair in a dark corner, the branch telephone ready to his hand.
Midnight struck on a distant church bell. Tom, who caught himself nodding, sat up with a start. Surely that was a noise of some one coming along the corridor. It might be the watchman. No, it was some one coming into the law offices.