Allbright's face brightened. “I am very glad, sir,” he said. “I was afraid of getting behind with the rent, and my sister has not been very well lately, and there is the doctor's bill.”
“I am very glad also,” said Carroll. “I dislike exceedingly to allow these things to remain unpaid.” As he spoke he was counting out the amount of Allbright's month's salary. He then closed the pocket-book with a deft motion, but not before the clerk had seen that it was nearly empty. He also saw something else before Carroll brought his light overcoat together over his chest. “It is really cold to-night,” he said.
“I am very much obliged to you, sir, for the money,” Allbright said, putting the notes in his old pocket-book. Then he replied to Carroll's remark concerning the weather, that it was indeed cold, and he thought there would be a frost.
“Yes, I think so,” said Carroll.
Then Allbright put on his own rather shabby, dark overcoat and his hat and took his leave. Much to his surprise, Carroll extended his hand, something which he had never done before.
“Good-bye,” he said.
Allbright shook the extended hand, and felt a sudden, unexplained emotion. He returned the good-bye, and wished Mr. Carroll a pleasant vacation and restoration to health.
“I am tired out and ill,” Carroll admitted, in a weary voice, and his eyes, as they now met the other man's, were haggard.
“There's two weeks' vacation,” Allbright told his sister when he reached home that night, “and I don't know, but I'm afraid business ain't going just to suit Captain Carroll, and that's the reason for it.”
“Has he paid you?” asked his sister, quickly, and her placid forehead wrinkled. Her illness had made her irritable.