Mr. Wheeler dashed off a few lines, properly addressed them, and handed them to Harry.
“Use all dispatch,” he said.
“I will,” answered our hero, promptly.
As he left the inner office, the clerk outside regarded him curiously. He was surprised at the long interview accorded him, and wondered what could be his errand.
As Harry descended the stairs, he jostled a man who was ascending, and naturally was led to look at him. Harry came near dropping with sheer surprise. The man he recognized at once as Vernon, one of the men whom he had seen in the wood.
CHAPTER XXII — BROUGHT TO BAY
Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
“I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said. “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too. I hope he will stay till I get back.”
Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs. His appearance was that of a well-dressed man, not much over thirty, who might be filling a responsible business position in the city. When, therefore, he said to the clerk, “Is Mr. Wheeler in?” he received a more polite reply than had been accorded to Harry fifteen minutes before.