"Very likely he hasn't got much money."
"That's right. Did you ever see such shabby neckties as he wears?"
"He hasn't your advantages about getting new neckties," said Andy, with a smile, for he had already learned where Sam was at work.
"How do you like the tie I have on? It's a stunner, isn't it?" asked Sam, complacently.
"It's very showy."
"I get a new necktie every week. You see, I get them at half price.
Girls always notice your necktie."
"Then I don't think they'll pay me much attention."
"Your tie is too sober, that's a fact. Better let me bring you one. I can get it half off. They won't know but it's for me."
"Thank you. I may by and by accept your offer. Now, I don't want to spend any extra money."
At the table Andy was introduced to a Mr. and Mrs. Osborn, who did not appear to be long married. She was tall, angular and thirty-five. He was at least five years younger. He had married her for her money, but she let him have little advantage of it, dealing it out in small sums.
He occupied a small clerkship at eight dollars a week, out of which he had to pay his own board, while his wife, who had an income from property of a thousand dollars a year, defrayed her own expenses, and occasionally allowed him a dollar or two.
He was much better looking than his wife, and it was this, perhaps, that made her jealous if he looked at another woman. The particular object of her jealousy was a Miss Manson, who held a business position at an uptown milliner's. She was pleasant and piquant.
There was also a Mr. Kimball, who was a salesman at Hearn's. He liked to discuss financial problems, and felt that he should have been a banker, but found no one to talk with, as Mr. Osborn's ideas on finance were elementary.
Indeed, Mrs. Osborn was the only one at the table who was competent to converse with him on his favorite subject.
"Miss Manson, may I pass you the sugar?" asked Mr. Osborn on the first occasion of Andy's appearing at dinner.
"Miss Manson can reach the sugar bowl herself," interposed Mrs. Osborn, with a reproving frown.
"I like to be neighborly, my dear," said her husband, deprecatingly.
"I see you do."
Miss Manson smiled, and so did others at the table, who detected Mrs.
Osborn's jealousy.
"Have you read the President's financial message, Mr. Osborn?" asked Mr.
Kimball.
"No; I don't take any interest in such things."
"I have read it, Mr. Kimball," said Mrs. Osborn, "and I approve his recommendations."
"So do I, with one exception," returned Mr. Kimball; and they began a conversation in which none of the other boarders took an interest.
When supper was over, Andy and Sam went for a walk. Mr. Warren excused himself on the ground that he was writing a poem for one of the magazines.
"So you are with a jeweler," said Sam. "I may come up and buy a ring some day. Do you allow a discount to friends?"
"I don't know yet. I will favor you if I can."
CHAPTER XVIII.
A PLOT AGAINST ANDY.
Some six weeks later, about the middle of the forenoon, a Western Union Telegraph boy entered the store and handed Mr. Flint a telegram.
Tearing it open, the jeweler read the contents and seemed quite agitated.
"Mr. Rich," he said, turning to the head clerk, "I have bad news. My only brother is dangerously sick. This dispatch says that if I wish to see him alive I must start at once."
"Where does he live?"
"In Denver, Colorado."
"That is a long way off."
"Yes. I don't see how I can leave the business, but I cannot bear to think of my brother dying without my seeing him again."
"I think, sir, that I can keep things straight. I have been with you for six years."
"True, and you know the business thoroughly. Besides, you can write or telegraph me, if need be, every day."
"I will do so, sir. You can depend on me."
"Besides, you will have Andrew to help you. He is a good and faithful boy."
To this Simon Rich made no reply, but there was a look on his face that boded no good for Andy.
"I think I will go home at once and get ready. It is necessary that I should start immediately. I shall have no time to give you directions, but I will write you as soon as I reach Denver."
"Very well, sir," said Simon Rich, smoothly. "Make your mind quite easy.
All will go well during your absence."
Half an hour later, when Andy returned from an errand, Mr. Flint was gone.
"I have a message for Mr. Flint," said Andy, as he entered the store.
"You can give it to me."
"I was told to deliver it to Mr. Flint personally."