"I like my present position better," answered Chester; "besides, I suppose you are hardly prepared to offer me twenty-five dollars a week."

 

"Do you receive as much as that?" asked the broker¹, in amazement².

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"I congratulate you heartily," said Mr. Fairchild. "It is clear that you are too high priced for the real estate business."

 

"Felix tells me you may retain him."

 

"I will give him a chance. It depends upon himself whether he stays."

 

"I am very glad of it, sir. Felix has hardly been my friend, but now that his cousin is away he may improve. I certainly hope so."

 

"What shall you do about Ralston?" asked Chester, presently.

 

"I shall proceed against him. Such a man is a curse to the community. It was through him that my bookkeeper lost his integrity and ruined his prospects³. If he is locked up he will be prevented from doing any more harm."

 

As Dick Ralston will not again figure in this story, it may be mentioned here that he was found guilty in the trial that soon followed, and was sentenced to a term of several years' imprisonment⁴.

 

The bitterest reflection he had when sentence was pronounced was that his confederate, Mullins, had escaped and was a free man. Rogues⁵ may work together, but it is seldom that any tie of friendship exists between them.

 

Chester was now able to save money. Including what he received from Prof. Hazlitt, his income was about thirty-five dollars a week.

 

His personal expenses were greater than they had been, on account of having a more expensive room. Yet altogether they did not exceed twelve dollars per week, leaving him a balance of twenty-three.

 

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