"It isn't likely, for he would come down after his money when he saw it was getting close to closing-up time."
"There's no clock up there, and, besides, he isn't a boy who watches the clock, like some employees do for fear they will work a minute more than they're paid for it. Dick is always interested in his work. I've noticed that, and it is just possible he might have overlooked the fact that it is Saturday. I am going up to see if he is there," said Mr. Bacon.
The clerks followed him, curious to see if the boy was really still at work. They found no sign of the office boy on the floor.
"He is not here," said Mr. Bacon. "Mr. Dale must have sent him on an errand and he has been delayed."
The three were standing near the closet as the merchant spoke. It was at that very moment that the subject of their thoughts finally became senseless. Dick's head, falling forward when he lost consciousness, hit the door, and the sound attracted the attention of the proprietor and his two clerks.
"What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Bacon.
He pulled the door open and the office boy fell out.
[CHAPTER VII.—Dick and His Eldest Sister.]
To say that Mr. Bacon and his clerks were both astonished and startled would be stating the case quite mildly.