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56 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

‘‘As Ihave dropped in to talk with you a little
about my own affairs, I will come at once to the
point.”’

‘That is right. Speak out plainly, Edward, and
you will find in me, at least, a sincere friend, and
an honest adviser. What is the matter now?”

‘“T don’t like my present situation, Mr. Melle-
ville !”’

“Ah! Well? What’s the trouble? Have you
and Jasper had a misunderstanding ?”

“Ohno! Nothing of that. We get on well enough
together. But I don’t think its a good place for
a young man to be in, sir!”

“¢ Why not ?”

“I can be plain with you. In a word, Mr. Jas-
per is not an honest dealer; and he expects his
clerks to do pretty much as he does.”

Mr. Melleville shook his head and look ave.

“To tell the truth,” continued Edward, “T have
suffered myself to fall, almost insensibly, into his
way of doing business, until I have become an abso-
lute cheat—taking, sometimes, double and treble
profit from a customer who happened to be ignorant
about prices.”

“Edward!” exclaimed the old man, an expres-
sion of painful surprise settling on his countenance.

“Tt is all too true, Mr. Melleville—all too true.
And I don’t think it good for me to remain with
Mr. Jasper.”

“What does he give you now?”

“The same as at first. Five hundred dollars.”

The old man bent his head and thought for a
few moments. |

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