To this request the broker answered substantially as follows:
"I shall be glad to hear that you have changed your course, and have
decided to lead an honest lift; but, for the same reason that I am
not willing to retain you in my employment, I am unwilling to
recommend you without reserve to another business man. If you are
willing to refer him to me, on condition that I tell the truth, I
will cheerfully testify that you have discharged your office duties
to my satisfaction."
"The old fool!" muttered Ford, angrily crushing the letter in his
hand. "What use would such a recommendation be to me? Not content
with discharging me, he wants to keep me out of employment."
In truth, Willis Ford hardly knew where to turn. He had saved no
money, and was earning nothing. In his dilemma he turned to his
stepmother.
One forenoon, after he knew the broker and Grant would be out of the
way, he rang the bell, and inquired for the housekeeper.
Mrs. Estabrook was agitated when she saw her step-son. She did not
like to believe that he had robbed her, but it was hard to believe
otherwise.
"Oh, Willis!" she said almost bursting into tears, "how could you
take my small savings? I would not have believed you capable of it!"
"You don't mean to say, mother," returned Willis, with
well-dissembled and reproachful sorrow, "that you believe this
monstrous slander?"
"I don't want to believe it, Willis, heaven knows.
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