When
I came out I searched for you everywhere,
but heard nothing."
"How did you know I was here?" asked the bookkeeper.
"I didn't know. I had no suspicion of it.
Nor did I dream that Leonard, who was able
to do me a little service, was your nephew. I
say, he's a chip of the old block, Gibbon," and
Stark laughed as if he enjoyed it.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I was lying in a field, overcome by liquor,
an old weakness of mine, you know, and my
wallet had slipped out of my pocket. I
chanced to open my eyes, when I saw it in the
hands of your promising nephew, ha! ha!"
"He told me that."
"But he didn't tell you that he was on the
point of appropriating a part of the contents?
I warrant you he didn't tell you that."
"Did he acknowledge it? Perhaps you misjudged him."
"He didn't acknowledge it in so many words,
but I knew it by his change of color and confusion.
Oh, I didn't lay it up against him.
We are very good friends. He comes honestly by it."
Gibbon looked very much annoyed, but there were reasons
why he did not care to express his chagrin.
"On my honor, it was an immense surprise
to me," proceeded Stark, "when I learned that
my old friend Gibbon was a resident of Milford."
"I wish you had never found it out," thought
Gibbon, biting his lip.
"No sooner did I hear it than I posted off
at once to call on you."
"So I see."
Stark elevated his eyebrows, and looked
amused. He saw that he was not a welcome
visitor, but for that he cared little.
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