Alonzo, who had his share of curiosity, as soon as he saw Phil's approach, determined to speak to him, and ascertain what were his plans and what he was doing. With the petty malice which he inherited from his mother, he hoped that Phil had been unable to find a place and was in distress. “It would serve him right,” said Alonzo to himself, “for trying to get into Uncle Oliver's good graces. I s'pose he would like to cut me out, but he'll find that he can't fight against ma and me.”
“Oh, it's you, is it?” was Alonzo's salutation when they met.
“Yes,” answered Phil.
“Pa bounced you, didn't he?” continued Alonzo complacently.
“Yes,” answered Phil. “That is, he discharged me. I suppose that is what you meant.”
“You've got it right the first time,” said Alonzo.
“Have you got another place?”
“Do you ask because you feel interested in me?” asked Phil.
“Well, not particularly,” answered Alonzo appearing quite amused by the suggestion.
“Then you ask out of curiosity?”
“S'pose I do?”
“I don't mind telling you that I have found a place, then.”
“What sort of a place?” asked Alonzo, disappointed.
“There is no need of going into particulars.”
“No. I s'pose not,” sneered Alonzo. “You're probably selling papers or blacking boots.”
“You are mistaken. I have a much better situation than I had with your father.”
Alonzo's lower jaw fell. He was very sorry to hear it.
“Didn't your employer ask for a recommendation?”
“He didn't seem to think one necessary!” replied Phil.
“If he'd known pa had sacked you, he wouldn't have wanted you, I guess.”
“He knows it. Have you got through asking questions, Alonzo?”
“You are too familiar. You can call me Mr. Pitkin.”
Phil laughed at Alonzo's assumption of dignity, but made no comment upon it.
“I want to ask you what you did with that letter Mr. Carter gave you to post for me?” asked Phil.
Alonzo was indeed surprised, not to say dismayed. The truth was that, judging from the “feel” of the letter, it contained money, and he had opened it and appropriated the money to his own use. Moreover he had the bank-note in his pocket at that very moment, not having any wish to spend, but rather to hoard it.
“That's a queer question,” he stammered. “What letter do you refer to?”
“A letter Mr. Carter gave you to mail to me.”
“If he gave me any such letter I mailed it,” answered Alonzo, scarcely knowing what to say.
“I didn't receive it.”
“How do you know he gave me any letter?” demanded Alonzo, puzzled.
“I don't care to tell. I only know that there was such a letter handed to you. Do you know what was in it?”
“Writing, I s'pose,” said Alonzo flippantly.
“Yes, there was, but there was also a ten-dollar bill. I didn't receive the letter,” and Phil fixed his eyes searchingly upon the face of Alonzo.
“That's a pretty story!” said Alonzo. “I don't believe Uncle Oliver would be such a fool as to send you ten dollars. If he did, you got it, and now want to get as much more, pretending you haven't received it.”
“You are mistaken,” said Phil quietly.
“If you didn't get the letter, how do you know any was written, and that there was anything in it?” asked Alonzo triumphantly, feeling that the question was a crusher.
“I don't care to tell you how I know it. Do you deny it?”
“I don't remember whether Uncle Oliver gave me any letter or not.”
“Will you be kind enough to give me his address in Florida, so that I may write to him and find out?”
“No, I won't,” said Alonzo angrily, “and I think you are very cheeky to ask such a thing. Ma was right when she said ............