"
"But I have no other money," said Carl, desperately.
"Then I shall feel justified in ordering your
arrest on a charge of passing, or trying to pass,
counterfeit money."
"Don't do that, sir! I will see that you are
paid out of the first money I earn."
"You must think I am soft," said the clerk,
contemptuously. "I have seen persons of your
stripe before. I dare say, if you were searched,
more counterfeit money would be found in
your pockets."
"Search me, then!" cried Carl, indignantly.
"I am perfectly willing that you should."
"Haven't you any relations who will pay your bill?"
"I have no one to call upon," answered Carl, soberly.
"Couldn't you let me work it out?
I am ready to do any kind of work."
"Our list of workers is full," said the clerk, coldly.
Poor Carl! he felt that he was decidedly
in a tight place. He had never before found
himself unable to meet his bills. nor would
he have been so placed now but for Hubbard's
rascality. A dollar and a quarter seems a
small sum, but if you are absolutely penniless
it might as well be a thousand. Suppose
he should be arrested and the story get
into the papers? How his stepmother would
exult in the record of his disgrace! He could
anticipate what she would say. Peter, too,
would rejoice, and between them both his father
would be persuaded that he was thoroughly unprincipled.
"What have you got in your valise?" asked the clerk.
"Only some underclothing. If there were
anything of any value I would cheerfully leave
it as security.
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