“You are back early,” said Mr. Flint.

“Yes, sir; Mrs. Mason invited me to lunch, and that saved time.”

Simon Rich looked surprised.  His nephew had never received so much attention from a customer.

CHAPTER XVII.

ANDY’S FELLOW BOARDERS.

As time went on, Andy became sensible that Simon Rich was indeed no friend of his.  He was watched with a cold vigilance that was nothing less than a lookout for imperfections.  Andy saw that it would be necessary for him to be unusually careful and attentive to his duties.

Mr. Flint, on the other hand, was always kind and cordial, notwithstanding the slighting words from Mr. Rich.

One day when Andy returned from lunch he found a boy talking with Simon Rich.  He recognized him as his predecessor.

The boy, John Crandall, looked at him with an ill-natured glance.  As Simon Rich did not see fit to introduce him he did not speak.  When Rich went out to lunch John Crandall accompanied him.

“Don’t you think there is any chance of my getting back, Uncle Simon?” asked John.

“Not at present.  That boy you saw seems to have the inside track with Mr. Flint.”

“What sort of a boy is he?”

“He’s too fresh.  I don’t like him.”

“What made Mr. Flint take him on?”

“Heaven knows; I don’t.”

“Do you think he is likely to stay?”

“Not if I can help it.”

“Can’t you prejudice Mr. Flint against him?”

“I will if I can.  I am looking for a chance to get him into trouble, but it isn’t easy, as he is a goody-goody sort of a boy.  He tries to get in with people.  You know Mrs. Mason, of Fifty-sixth Street?”

“Yes; I have carried purchases there.”

“The very first day he was here he went there with a chain, and she invited him to lunch.”

“You don’t mean it?” exclaimed John, in surprise.  “She never took any notice of me.”

They went to the Dairy Restaurant, on Union Square, for lunch.

“Uncle Simon,” said John, when they were going out, “can’t you give me fifty cents?  You know I haven’t a cent of money, now that my salary is stopped.”

“What do you want fifty cents for?” demanded his uncle, frowning.

“I want to go to the Grand Opera House to-night.  I haven’t been to the theater for two weeks.”

“And you can’t expect to while you are not earning anything.”

“But that isn’t my fault,” pleaded John.

“Yes, it is.  You neglected your duties at Flint’s, and he saw it.  That is why you lost your place.”

“It is pretty hard going about without a cent of money in your pocket.”

“Then you should have kept your place.  Have you been around to look for another position?”

“No; I thought you would get me back into Flint’s.”

“I don’t think there is much chance, but I will try to get the other boy out.”