"At any rate, he has been under suspicion. He can't be trusted."
"In that case," said Robert proudly, "I withdraw my application. I need the place enough, but if you are afraid to trust me I don't care to come."
"I am not afraid to trust you," said the owner of the shop kindly, "but my wife seems to have taken a prejudice against you."
"In that case I will go."
Robert bowed and left the store. His heart was full of disappointment and bitterness, and he resented the cruel want of consideration shown by the woman who had interfered between him and employment.
In fact, he had but fifteen cents left in his pocketbook. It was time for dinner, and he felt that he must eat. But where his next meal, outside of his boarding house, was to come from, he could not tell.
He was on State Street, and must go to another part of the city to find a cheap restaurant. He chanced to be passing the same store where he had almost suffered arrest.
"I wish I had never gone in there," he reflected. "It cost me a place."
As this thought passed through his mind a lady, richly dressed, passed through the portals of the store and stepped on the sidewalk.
Her glance rested on the boy.