"Here, John, take the money," he said, "I am glad it will help you."
"It will relieve us very much. Mother has been worrying a good deal over our trouble. She didn't know where to go."
Now it happened that Mrs. Lane, who was walking on the opposite side of the street, saw the two boys coming out of the bank. Her curiosity was aroused, and unseen by Gerald, she crossed over and entered the savings bank.
"Mr. Barton," she said, "didn't I see Gerald come out of the bank just now with the Holman boy?"
"Yes, Mrs. Lane."
"What did he come in for?"
Mr. Barton had never liked Mrs. Lane, and he wasn't pleased with her somewhat peremptory tone.
"He came on business connected with the bank," he said briefly.
"Oh, he did, did he? What business can he have here?"
"You had better ask him."
Mrs. Lane was provoked, but she saw that she could not browbeat the bank officer.
"Mr. Barton," she said, "has Gerald any money in this bank?"
"Yes."
"Did he draw any this morning?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"I don't answer such questions in regard to our depositors."
"Has he any left here?"
"Yes."
"Then don't let him draw any more out—do you hear?—without communicating with me."
"Mrs. Lane, this deposit is in Gerald's name and has always been under his control. His father never interfered with it, nor have you any right to do so."
"Gerald Lane is my stepson. It is my duty to see that he doesn't waste his money, do you hear?"
"Whenever Gerald presents a draft, I shall honor it, do you hear?" retorted the cashier.
Mrs. Lane's face became red with anger.
"You are very impolite," she said.
"So are you, Mrs. Lane. You did not even know that Gerald had an account here, and as his father did not interfere with it, I fail to see why you should. Good morning, madam!"
Mrs. Lane left the bank in a passion. She was not used to being thwarted and she would have had Mr. Barton discharged from his post if she could have had her way.
CHAPTER III
MRS. LANE'S DISAPPOINTMENT
Half an hour later the two boys were passing the savings bank, when Mr. Barton espied them.
Leaving his place, he went to the door and called them.
"I have a word to say to you, Gerald," he said. "Does your stepmother know that you have a deposit in our bank?"
"Not that I know of. It is nothing to her, anyway, as my father put the money here under my name, and it was left to my control."
"Precisely; but I have to tell you that Mrs. Lane does know you have money here."
"How did she find out?" asked Gerald, amazed.
"She saw you go out of the bank and, suspecting something, came in and inquired."
"Well?"
"Of course I told her that you had an account here. Then she forbade me to let you draw any of it."
"And you agreed to it?"
"No, I told her the money was under your control."
"Thank you. What did she say then?"
"She asked how much money you had here; I declined to inform her."
"Mr. Barton, you are a true friend."
"I don't mind telling you, Gerald, that I don't like your stepmother, and that I do like you."
"I am afraid there will be trouble. What do you advise me to do?"
"To draw out all your money except one dollar. Our rules will admit of that."
"But what shall I do with it? If I keep it at home she may get hold of it."
"Put it in the hands of some friend you can trust."
"Will you take charge of it for me?"
"Yes, Gerald, if you think you can trust me," said Mr. Barton, with a smile.
"There is no one I would trust with more confidence."
"Then draw a check for forty-three dollars. That, together with the six dollars you have already drawn, will leave one dollar in the bank."
"Good! I will do it."
Gerald made out a check for forty-three dollars, and, when received, handed the money to Mr. Barton, who gave him a memorandum of it.
"Keep this from your stepmother," he suggested, "or she will ask me for it."
"Won't you keep the memorandum yourself, Mr. Barton?"
"But that would be hardly businesslike."
"Never mind that. I have perfect confidence in you."
"Very well, since you have confidence in me, I will put it in my tin box at home, and if anything should happen to me it will secure you."
"Well, I am glad that is off my mind," said Gerald; "I think I have checkmated Mrs. Lane."
"It must be disagreeable to find it necessary to take such extreme precautions."
"It is, but I must submit to it."
"You told me you were going to work, Gerald," said John, suddenly. "Have you engaged any place?"
"No, but Mrs. Lane has made an arrangement for me with Mr. Tubbs, the grocer."
"You don't mean it? You work in a grocery!"
"It is respectable, and I am not afraid of work, but it will be very disagreeable."
"I can tell you it will be. I once worked for old Tubbs myself."
"How did you like it?"
"Not at all. I had to work twelve hours a day, and received but two dollars and a half a week."
"I am to have the munificent sum of three dollars. Evidently Mr. Tubbs thinks that very liberal. He tells me that by the time I am twenty-one I may be getting ten dollars a week, and if my stepmother will advance a thousand dollars he may sell me an interest in the business."
"What a shame!"
"That I should have an interest in the business?" asked Gerald, with a smile.
"No, but that a boy of your scholarship should tend in a grocery, and for such a sum. Why, I earn six dollars a week as a pegger."
"I should rather work in your shop than in the grocery."
"But there is no vacancy. That, too, would be unfit for you. Why, you know Latin and French, don't you?"
"I have studied them. If Mr. Tubbs has any Latin or French customers I may be able to wait on them."
"I am glad you can joke about it, Gerald."
"I don't feel much like joking, I assure you."
About twelve o'clock Gerald turned his steps in the direction of home, though, since his father's death, it no longer seemed to him like home. Dinner would be on the table at half-past twelve, and he always aimed to be punctual.
Mrs. Lane took her place at the table, stiff and rigid as usual. She had not forgotten the savings bank deposit of Gerald, and had made up her mind to get it under her control.
Mrs. Lane did not immediately introduce the subject, but when the dessert came on she said: "I saw you coming out of the savings bank this morning."
"Now for it!" thought Gerald.
"Yes," he said, in brief assent.
"How long have you had an account