CHAPTER XXIII. 

STRANGE DISCOVERIES. 

Frank Massanet was surprised and delighted to have Richard come to work again. 

"You have indeed a good friend in Mr. Joyce," he remarked when the boy had told him what the leather merchant had done. "One such is worth a thousand of the common sort." 

During the afternoon Earle Norris had occasion to come up to the stock- room. He started back upon seeing Richard at work. 

"Why, I thought you had taken a vacation!" he exclaimed. 

"So I did--for an hour," replied Richard, and without further words went on with his work. 

"Why, I thought--" began the shipping-clerk. 

"What did you think?" demanded Frank, coming forward. 

"Why I--I----" stammered Norris. "What business is it of _yours_?" he added rudely. 

"You thought he was discharged," went on Frank. "You've been trying your best to get him discharged." 

"Who says so?" demanded Norris, but he turned slightly pale as he uttered the words. "I say so. I don't understand your scheme, but that's what you are trying to do; and I warn you that you had better quit it." 

It was seldom that Frank Massanet spoke in such an arbitrary way, yet it was plain to see that he meant every word he said. 

"You're mistaken," returned Norris, hardly knowing how to reply. "But it's only natural that you should stick up for your mother's boarders. They help support the family, I suppose." 

And with this parting shot the shipping-clerk hurried below. 

In the middle of the afternoon Mr. Mann sent for Richard and asked the boy to accompany him to an office on lower Broadway. 
Who is one of them?
But it's only natural that you should stick up for your mother's boarders. 