"I was engaged to do the work of a boy, and was to have thirteen dollars a month, with a promise of increase of wages if I did well. You know I am not afraid of work; and I tried to do my very best. It was just such a store as I had longed to be in, and at first I was delighted with my situation."
Harrison sighed heavily and then went on. "As errand-boy I was around in all parts of the store, and one day I overheard Mr. Grant swearing terribly at the head clerk. They were alone in the office. I suppose he did not realize that any one could hear him. I was dreadfully frightened, and stood still. The clerk, whose name is Ransom, answered him back in the same angry tone, 'I'll expose you then.'"
"'And criminate yourself,' said Mr. Grant."
"'Kilby will forgive that, for exposing your villainy,' retorted the clerk."
"I crawled softly away and went up stairs. What could they have meant? At first, I could only imagine that the life of some one was in danger; but, after lying awake almost all night over it, I determined to be on my guard and watch the actions of my employer."
"A part of my duty was to clear the office of rubbish, which had accumulated through the day. Newspapers and old letters were generally crumpled and thrown under the table, to show they were of no further use. These I gathered in a basket and carried away to the place assigned them. One day I wanted a piece of paper, and, having noticed that often there was a half-sheet thrown under the table, I went and selected one which had only a few words written on it. It was the beginning of a letter addressed to L. F. Kilby, Esq. Then, in the first line, a word was misspelled, and the whole was thrown aside. The next piece I took was this letter, which had been copied but not filed. Hardly knowing what I was doing, I began to read, but was just going to throw it aside when my curiosity was roused by these words: 'Trade still dreadfully dull. Haven't sold a hundred bushels for a week. Mr. Ransom has concluded to take the front store, as I wrote in my last, for storage. He has some scheme, a wild one I fear. I waited for your answer till the last moment, hoping you would veto the bargain; but, as' —This too," added Harrison, "for some reason was left incomplete. I put it in my pocket."
"During the week of which he spoke we had been sending off immense quantities of wheat, corn, and other grains. I began to understand the game. All this time I was very much excited, and lost my appetite. I didn't know what it was my duty to do. I suppose I felt worse in consequence of knowing that Mr. Haven's partner had ruined him, and caused his death. I used to see Mr. Grant open his office door and beckon Mr. Ransom in. Sometimes I used to loiter up near the partition, so as to hear what they were saying.
"One day I heard Mr. Grant say, 'I'm afraid he's got wind of it. He'll pounce right upon us some day.'"
"'We must prepare for him,' said the clerk, in an indifferent tone."
"'How is it possible to do it?' asked the other."