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The clerk returned。 There was no such name on the books。 Jackson
Brant was utterly unknown to every one in the establishment。
For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed
to yield with his weight； he was obliged to steady himself with both hands
to keep from falling。 It was not his disappointment； which was terrible； it
was not a thought of his future； which seemed hopeless； it was not his
injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr。 Peyton； which
was more dreadful than all else； but it was the sudden； sickening sense that
HE himself had been deceived； tricked； and fooled！ For it flashed upon
him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which had always
haunted him was thisthat this was the vile culmination of a plan to GET
RID OF HIM； and that he had been deliberately lost and led astray by his
relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or dog！
Perhaps there was something of this in his face； for the clerk； staring at
him； bade him sit down for a moment； and again vanished into the
mysterious interior。 Clarence had no conception how long he was absent；
or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts； for he was conscious
of wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in
the counter into an inner room of many desks； and again through a glass
door into a smaller office； where a preternaturally busy…looking man sat
writing at a desk。 Without looking up； but pausing only to apply a blotting…
pad to the paper before him； the man said crisply
〃So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up； and
can't be found； eh？ Never mind that；〃 as Clarence laid Peyton's letter
before him。 〃Can't read it now。 Well； I suppose you want to be shipped
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back to Stockton？〃
〃No！〃 said the boy； recovering his voice with an effort。
〃Eh； that's business； though。 Know anybody here？〃
〃Not a living soul； that's why they sent me；〃 said the boy； in sudden
reckless desperation。 He was the more furious that he knew the tears
were standing in his eyes。
The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly。 〃Looks a little like it；
don't it？〃 he said； smiling grimly at the paper before him。 〃Got any
money？〃
〃A little。〃
〃How much？〃
〃About twenty dollars；〃 said Clarence hesitatingly。 The man opened
a drawer at his side； mechanically； for he did not raise his eyes； and took
out two ten…dollar gold pieces。 〃I'll go twenty better；〃 he said； laying
them down on the desk。 〃That'll give you a chance to look around。
Come back here； if you don't see your way clear。〃 He dipped his pen into
the ink with a significant gesture as if closing the interview。
Clarence pushed back the coin。 〃I'm not a beggar；〃 he said doggedly。
The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two keen
eyes。 〃You're not； hey？ Well； do I look like one？〃
〃No；〃 stammered Clarence； as he glanced into the man's haughty eyes。
〃Yet； if I were in your fix； I'd take that money and be glad to get it。〃
〃If you'll let me pay you back again；〃 said Clarence； a little ashamed；
and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of the man before
him。
〃You can；〃 said the man； bending over his desk again。
Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse。 But it
was the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him in the bar…
room； and it struck him that it was heavy and full indeed； so full that on
opening it a few coins rolled out on to the floor。 The man looked up
abruptly。
〃I thought you said you had only twenty dollars？〃 he remarked grimly。
〃Mr。 Peyton gave me forty；〃 returned Clarence； stupefied and blushing。
〃I spent twenty dollars for drinks at the barand；〃 he stammered； 〃III
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don't know how the rest came here。〃
〃You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS？〃 said the man； laying down
his pen； and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy。
〃Yesthat isI treated some gentlemen of the stage； sir； at Davidson's
Crossing。〃
〃Did you treat the whole stage company？〃
〃No； sir； only about four or fiveand the bar…keeper。 But everything's
so dear in California。 I know that。〃
〃Evidently。 But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU；〃
said the man； glancing at the purse。
〃They wanted my purse to look at；〃 said Clarence hurriedly； 〃and that's
how the thing happened。 Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back into
MY purse by accident。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the man grimly。
〃Yes； that's the reason；〃 said Clarence； a little relieved； but somewhat
embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes。
〃Then； of course；〃 said the other quietly； 〃you don't require my twenty
dollars now。〃
〃But；〃 returned Clarence hesitatingly； 〃this isn't MY money。 I must
find out who it belongs to； and give it back again。 Perhaps；〃 he added
timidly； 〃I might leave it here with you； and call for it when I find the man；
or send him here。〃
With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what was
left of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just received。 The
balance unaccounted for was forty dollars。 He laid it on the desk before
the man； who； still looking at him； rose and opened the door。
〃Mr。 Reed。〃
The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared。
〃Open an account with〃 He stopped and turned interrogatively to
Clarence。
〃Clarence Brant；〃 said Clarence； coloring with excitement。
〃With Clarence Brant。 Take that deposit〃pointing to the money
〃and give him a receipt。〃 He paused as the clerk retired with a
wondering gaze at the money； looked again at Clarence； said； 〃I think
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YOU'LL do；〃 and reentered the private office； closing the door behind
him。
I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence； only a few
moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the hopeless
revelat