“Why am I discharged?  What have I done?” demanded Frank, while his heart sank within him.

“I don’t know.  You must ask Mr. Gilbert,” answered the cashier.

“I will speak to him, at any rate,” and Frank walked up to the senior partner, and addressed to him the same question.

“Can you not guess?” asked Mr. Gilbert, sternly.

“I can guess that a false accusation has been brought against me,” said Frank.

“A respectable lady has informed me that you are not honest.  I regret it, for I have been pleased with your diligence.  Of course, I cannot retain you in my employ.”

“Mr. Gilbert,” said Frank, earnestly, “the charge is false.  Mrs. Bradley is my enemy, and wishes me harm.  I don’t understand how the things came into my trunk, but I didn’t put them there.”

“I hope you are innocent, but I must discharge you.  Business is dull now, and I had decided to part with four of my cash-boys.  I won’t pass judgment upon you, but you must go.”

Frank bowed in silence, for he saw that further entreaty would be vain, and left the store more dispirited than at any moment since he had been in the city.

Ten days Frank spent in fruitless efforts to obtain a place.

All this time his money steadily diminished.  He perceived that he would soon be penniless.  Evidently, something must be done.  He formed two determinations.  The first was to write to Mr. Wharton, who, he thought, must now have returned from Washington, asserting his innocence and appealing to him to see Gilbert & Mack, and re-establish him in their confidence.  The second was, since he could not obtain a regular place, to frequent the wharves and seek chances to carry bundles.  In this way he might earn enough, with great economy, to pay for his board and lodging.

One morning the housekeeper entered the library where John Wade sat reading the daily papers.

“Mr. John,” she said, holding out a letter, “here is a letter from that boy.  I expected he would write to your uncle.”

John Wade deliberately opened the letter.

“Sit down, Mrs. Bradley, and I will read the letter aloud.”

It will be only necessary to quote the concluding sentences: 

“’I hope, Mr. Wharton, you will not be influenced against me by what Mrs. Bradley and your nephew say.  I don’t know why it is, but they are my enemies, though I have always treated them with respect.  I am afraid they have a desire to injure me in your estimation.  If they had not been, they would have been content with driving me from your house, without also slandering me to my employers, and inducing them to discharge me.  Since I was discharged, I have tried very hard to get another place, but as I cannot bring a recommendation from Gilbert & Mack, I have everywhere been refused.  I ask you, Mr. Wharton to consider my situation.  Already my small supply of money is nearly gone, and I do not know how I am to pay my expenses.  If it was any fault of mine that had brought me into this situation, I would not complain, but it seems hard to suffer when I am innocent.