“The world has progressed since then. A boy needs more pocket money now than he did fifteen years ago. How soon shall you try to get even with that boy?”
“I think it will be prudent to wait a while. Mr. Fairchild may suspect something if I move too soon. The boy has been with us less than a week.”
“He has been with you long enough to do some harm.”
“That’s true,” said Mullins, with an ugly look.
“Does he seem to suit Mr. Fairchild?”
“Yes; he appears to be intelligent, and he attends to his duties—worse luck!—but he’s a thorn in my side, a thorn in my side! I’d give twenty-five dollars if he was out of the office.”
“Do you want me to break off acquaintance with him?”
“No; keep on good terms with him. Let him think you are his intimate friend. It will give me a chance to plot against him—through you.”
CHAPTER XVI.