“I have just come from Mr. Ford's room,” he resumed. “These are what I found there.”
He drew from his pocket a long envelope, from which he took four government bonds.
“Will you be kind enough, Mrs. Estabrook,” said the broker, gravely, “to examine these bonds and determine whether they are yours?”
The housekeeper took them mechanically and examined them.
“They are mine,” she said; “but I cannot believe Willis took them.”
“I did not,” said Ford, hoarsely, but his eyes were downcast.
“Will you account for their being in your room, then, Mr. Ford?” inquired the broker, sternly.
“That boy must have put them there. I know nothing of them. I am as much surprised as you are.”
“We have had enough of this, Mr. Ford,” said the broker, coldly. “Your guilt is evident. In robbing your stepmother you have committed a serious crime; but in attempting to throw the guilt upon an innocent boy, you have been guilty of an offense still more detestable, and one which I cannot forgive. You cannot remain in my employment another day. If you will call at the office in the morning, I will pay your salary to the end of the month. That will end all relations between us.”
Willis Ford looked like a convicted criminal. For the moment all his hardihood and bravado deserted him.