The tickets were paid for and transferred to Palmer's vest-pocket. Then Alameda's husband left the office.
"I'm glad he's gone," said Livingston Palmer feebly. "I—I really thought he'd come in to horsewhip me."
"I guess he could do it," said Robert, with a smile.
"Isn't he a terrible looking ruffian? To think the divine Alameda should be married to such a man!"
"It's a pity she didn't meet you first. But I say, Mr. Palmer, you'd better give up paying attentions to her. It wouldn't be safe."
"I shall never dare to speak to her again."
"And you won't try to alienate her affections from him."
"No," answered Palmer fervently. "I—I feel that I have had a narrow escape."
Two weeks passed without any event of importance. Robert had no difficulty in "getting the run" of the business in the office, and it is not too much to say that he became in that short time quite as efficient as Livingston Palmer, though the latter had been in the office for several years. Robert was on the whole satisfied with his position, but it must be confessed that he was looking around for something better.