“Indeed!” exclaimed the collector, starting up in his chair. “Then he is sailing under false colors. He says you are his uncle, and has repeatedly told his creditors to send their bills to you, and they would be settled.”
“I know nothing about his debts,” said Mr. Walker, greatly astonished. “You must see Mr. Harris himself. Good-day, sir.”
The bogus collector returned his memorandum-book to his pocket, picked up his hat, and bowing himself out of the private office, hurried through the store, and down the street, like a man driven to death with business.
Mr. Walker watched him as long as he was in sight, and then arose slowly to his feet.
“I expected better things of Guy than this,” said he to himself. “If I have been deceived in him I shall be tempted to distrust everybody. Where did he get the money he has been spending so foolishly? He must have used some belonging to the firm.”
So saying, Mr. Walker left his private office to begin a thorough investigation of Guy’s accounts.
Business went on as smoothly as usual in the store that day with everybody except Guy. He was kept so busy, both in doors and out, that he had but little time to devote to his troubles; but his work dragged heavily, and every thing he undertook seemed to go wrong end foremost. Six o’clock came at last, and while Guy, wearied in body and mind, was standing at the book-keeper’s desk, rendering an account of his day’s work, a clerk hurried up with the information that a lady had called to see him on private business.
“A lady—on private business?” repeated Guy. “I am not acquainted with any ladies in St. Louis.”
There was one lady, however, with whom he was pretty well acquainted, and that was Mrs. Willis; and she it was who had called to see him.
“Mr. Harris,” said she, as if she hardly knew how to make known her errand, “I have come to ask you if you could make it convenient to settle your board bill this evening?”