“You don’t say so?”

“He opened my trunk and took out my pocketbook while I was absent on business.”

“I wouldn’t dare to live in York!” said the farmer, whose apprehensions were increased by Frank’s story.

By this time they had reached the office of Jones & Robinson, with whom, it will be remembered, Frank had once before had dealings.

“If you will come in here, Mr. Peters,” said our hero, “you will be sure of honorable treatment.  I will introduce you if you like.”

“I should be obleeged if you would,” said the farmer.  “Out in Craneville I am to home, but I ain’t used to York business men, and don’t know how to talk to them.”

It pleased Frank to find that, in spite of his inexperience, he was able to be of service to one more unaccustomed than himself to city scenes and city ways.

He walked up to the counter, followed by the farmer, and said: 

“This gentleman wishes to buy some government bonds.  I told him that he could transact his business here.”

“Thank you!  Mr. Benton, you may attend to this gentleman.”

Frank was about to leave the office, when Mr. Robinson called him back.

“You have been in the office before, have you not?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you not the boy who assisted in the capture of the man who robbed Mr. Henry Percival, of Madison Avenue?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought so.  I have been trying to find you for the last week.”

Naturally Frank looked surprised.

“Mr. Henry Percival was at that time in Europe,” said Mr. Robinson.  “On his return, a week since, he called on us, and expressed a desire to have you call upon him.  We had mislaid or lost your address, and were unable to give him the information he desired.”

Frank’s heart beat high with hope as the broker spoke.

“Perhaps,” he thought, “Mr. Percival may offer me a situation of some kind, and I certainly am greatly in need of one.”

“Did Mr. Percival recover all his bonds?” he asked.

“Nearly all,” answered Mr. Robinson.  “He considered himself exceedingly fortunate, and he certainly was so.”

“Do you know how much he was robbed of?” asked Frank.

“Rather over five thousand dollars.  Of this sum all has been recovered except three bonds of a hundred dollars each.  Mr. Percival is a rich man, and he won’t miss that small amount.”

“I wish I were rich enough not to miss three hundred dollars,” thought our hero.  “If I had my rights, I could say the same.”

Just now, in his extremity, Frank thought regretfully of the fortune he had lost.  Had he been so situated as to be earning enough to defray all his expenses, he would scarcely have given a thought of it.

“You had better go up to see Mr. Percival this evening,” said the banker, “if you have no other engagement.”

“Even if I had an engagement, I would put it off,” said Frank.  “Will you give me Mr. Percival’s number?”