I'll  allow  you  at  the  rate  of  a  dollar  and  a  half
a  day.  I  had  fifteen  dollars  under  my  pillow  that
you  took.  I  got  four  and  a  half  of  it  back,  count-
ing the  fifty  cents  from  the  fruit  man,  and  that
leaves  ten  dollars  and  a  half  you  owe  me.  You


224    THE  DAREWELL  CHUMS  IN  THE  CITY

work  seven  days  and  I'll  call  it  square,  and  give
you  your  bed  free  at  night.  That's  more  than
you  deserve,  but  you're  young  and  I'll  give  you  a
chance."

Ned  thought  it  was  a  pretty  poor  chance,  con-
sidering his  innocence  of  the  theft,  but  he  decided
it  was  best  not  to  answer.  He  got  a  pail  and
broom,  and,  taking  off  his  coat  set  to  work  clean-
ing the  dirty  floor.  Cassidy  watched  him  a  while
in  silence  and  remarked:

'  I'll  be  on  the  lookout,  so  don't  try  to  sneak
away."

'  I'll  work  my  seven  days,"  Ned  replied,  try-
ing to  hide  the  tears  that  would  persist  in  coming
into  his  eyes.  As  he  labored  away  the  stock  cer-
tificate, in  his  inside  pocket,  rustled.  All  his  trou-
ble dated  from  the  acquisition  of  that,  he  reflected
bitterly,  and  it  was  a  dearly  bought  bit  of  ex-
perience.
All  that  afternoon  Ned  worked  away,  his  heart
like  lead.  He  longed  for  a  sight  of  the  faces  of
his  chums,  and  he  wanted  to  hear  from  his  father.
It  seemed  a  very  long  time  since  he  had  left  Dare-
well  so  happy  and  filled  with  expectations  of  the
pleasures  he  and  his  friends  would  enjoy  in  New
York.
NED  A  PRISONER  225

fl  wonder  if  the  boys  came?'    Ned  thought.
