“I will come to-morrow, sir.”
“Very well,” said Mr. Wharton, with satisfaction.
The next day, by special favor, Frank got off from the store two hours earlier than usual. He bought at a Sixth Avenue basement store, a small, second hand trunk for two dollars. He packed his scanty wardrobe into the trunk, which, small as it was he was unable to fill, and had it carried to Mr. Wharton’s house.
He asked to see Mrs. Bradley, and she came to the door.
“I am glad to see you,” she said graciously. “You may leave your trunk in the hall and I will have it carried up by the servants.”
“Thank you,” said Frank, and he followed the housekeeper up the handsome staircase.
“This is to be your room,” said the housekeeper, opening the door of a small chamber on the third floor.
“It looks very nice and comfortable,” said Frank, looking about him with satisfaction.
She left the room, and five minutes later our hero’s modest trunk was brought up and deposited in the room.
That evening Frank read to Mr. Wharton as usual.
When nine o’clock came he said:
“You need not read aloud any more, but if you see any books in my library which you would like to read to yourself you may do so. In fact, Frank, you must consider yourself one of the family, and act as freely as if you were at home.”
“How kind you are to me, Mr. Wharton,” said Frank.
The next morning after Frank had left the house for his daily task, John Wade entered the housekeeper’s room.
“The boy is out of the way now, Mrs. Bradley,” he said. “You had better see if you have a key that will unlock his trunk.”
The two conspirators went upstairs, and together entered Frank’s room.
Mrs. Bradley brought out a large bunch of keys, and successively tried them, but one after another failed to open it.
“That’s awkward,” said John Wade. “I have a few keys in my pocket. One may possibly answer.”
The housekeeper kneeled down, and made a trial of John Wade’s keys. The last one was successful. The cover was lifted, and the contents were disclosed. However, neither John nor Mrs. Bradley seemed particularly interested in the articles for after turning them over they locked the trunk once more.
“So far so good,” said John Wade. “We have found the means of opening the trunk when we please.”
“When do you expect to carry out your plan, Mr. John?”
“Two weeks from this time my uncle is obliged to go to Washington for a few days on business. While he is gone we will spring the trap, and when he comes back he will find the boy gone in disgrace. We’ll make short work of him.”