WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 53

 

A customer entering at the moment, Claire left
his principal and moved down behind the counter.
He was not very agreeably affected, as the lady ap-
proached him, to see in her the person from whom
he had taken ten dollars on the previous day, in ex-
cess of areasonable profit. Her serious face warned
him that she had discovered the cheat.

«“ Are you the owner of this store ?” she asked, as
she leaned upon the counter, and fixed her mild, yet
steady eyes, upon the young man’s face.

«JT am not, ma'am,” replied Claire, forcing a
smile as he spoke. “ Didn’t I sell you a lot of goods
yesterday 2”

‘You did, sir.”’

“J thought I recognised you. Well, ma’am,
there was an error in your bill—an overcharge.”

So I should think.”

« Afovercharge of five dollars.”

Claire, while he affected an indifferent manner,
leaned over toward the woman and spoke in a low
tone of voice. Inwardly, he was trembling lest
Jasper should became cognizant of what was passing.

“Will you take goods for what is due you; or
shall I hand you back the money ?’”’ said he.

« As I have a few more purchases to make, I may
as well take goods,” was replied, greatly to the

oung man’s relief. 3

« What shall I show you, ma’am ?”’ he asked, in a
voice that now reached the attentive ears of Jasper,
who had been wondering to himself as to what was
passing between the clerk and customer.

A few articles were mentioned, and, in a little
while, another bill of seven dollars was made.

5*