CHAPTER XXIII.
That night, after the establishment of Mr.Warmore was closed and the employees had gone home, two persons remained behind to engage in earnest consultation.

They were the proprietor and G.Field Catherwood, the young man who expected, at the end of the year, to become an equal partner with him.

The doors were fastened, and the two sat alone in the private office, the expression on the faces of both showing that some grave matter weighed upon them.
"How long has this been going on ?" asked Mr.Warmore.
"For two weeks or more; that is to say, I discovered it about a fortnight ago.

No doubt it has been kept up in a small way for a long time previous to that." "How much do you suppose has been taken altogether ?" "Several hundred dollars; perhaps a thousand." "And your suspicions point to Mr.Gordon ?" "I am sorry to say they do.

Of course he was the last one to suspect; but, when I began quietly investigating, the trail led unmistakably to him." "What caused you first to suspect him, Mr.Catherwood ?" "Well, when a merchant finds some, one of his employees is robbing him, the most natural thing to do is to look into the habits of them all.