Part 19 (2/2)

”Now, d.a.m.n you!” I said with a snarl, ”turn out your pockets _quick_!”

He did so, and I found $37.00 there.

”It's my money,” he said surlily. ”It's my money! You touch that money and I'll have the law on you!”

I picked up the money, put it in my pocket, and said:

”Now, I'll give you just five minutes to get clear out of my sight!

Before you go, let me tell you that customers have seen you putting money in your pocket, and I have seen you also. Just let me have one peep from you, now or any other time, and I'll have you in jail! Now, beat it!”

I opened the door and he slunk out.

”I'll get you yet,” he growled as he left.

I had lost my temper, I knew I had; but I was mighty glad I had; for I felt if I hadn't I wouldn't have given him the lesson he deserved. And incidentally, I had learned another lesson, and that is, never rehire a discharged employee. Then and there I determined that, so long as I was in business, if an employee ever left me for any reason whatever, I would never reinstate him. He would be through forever.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I WAS SO RAGING MAD THAT I WAS PREPARED FOR ALMOST ANYTHING”]

When I got home that night, Betty remarked:

”Why, look at the knuckles on your hand! They have blood on them! What have you done?”

”Oh, I just knocked into the cash register $37.00 which was walking out of the door,” I returned jauntily. And then I told her the whole story.

She came over and kissed me and said:

”Good boy!” and her eyes flashed as she said it. ”I'm proud of you!”

Those four words meant more to me than the success of this sale.

Betty and I went to Boston the next day. I wanted to call at Bates & Hotchkin's to buy a few things I needed, and also I wanted to call on Mr. Barker, to whom Mr. Sirle had given me a card of introduction some time ago. I intended that we should have a nice little dinner, and take in a show and stay at a good hotel for the night and come back the next day. All by way of celebration.

”You are an extravagant man,” said Betty severely when I told her this.

”What train do we leave by? I'll be ready.”

CHAPTER XIX

A TRIP TO BOSTON

We had a great time in Boston. In the evening we went to see ”Pollyanna”

and I told Betty I had fallen in love with Patricia Collinge.

”I'll get jealous,” she said, and squeezed my arm.

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