A Temptation. 45

‘I want, above all, a drawing of the new
machine I have spoken to you about; but, as
your time is, of course, valuable, I will pay you
for your work. There!’ added he, holding out
three pieces of gold coin, ‘I will give you these
as payment in advance. We will afterwards
come to terms about better payment.’

The sight of the gold startled Fred and
aroused his suspicions. The stranger would not
pay thus highly for drawings that he did not
intend to use. These plans were doubtless re-
quired for the purpose of constructing machinery
to be employed in competing with Mr. Kart-
mann, which competition might seriously hurt
the trade of his employer, and do him immense
injury. The youth shuddered at the thought
of the harm he might do his employer by any
imprudence on his part, and, hastily gathering
his drawings together, he put them back into
the portfolio, which he carefully fastened.

The stranger looked at him with astonish-
ment, and held out to him once more the three
pieces of gold.

‘Thanks, said Fred, ‘but I cannot accept
your offer, sir. I now remember that in doing
so I should be disposing of property that does