I had the afternoon paper in my hands, and was running my eyes up and down the columns, not reading, but, in a half-absent way, trying to find something of sufficient interest to claim attention, when, among the money and business items, I came upon a paragraph that sent the declining thermometer of my feelings away down towards the chill of zero.  It touched, in the most vital part, my scheme of gain; and the shrinking bubble burst.

“Have the goods sold to that new customer from Alton been delivered?” I asked, as the real interest of my wasted day loomed up into sudden importance.

“Yes, sir,” was answered by one of my clerks; “they were sent to Kline & Co.’s immediately.  Mr. B——­said they were packing up his goods, which were to be shipped to-day.”

“He’s a safe man, I should think.  Kline & Co. sell him.”  My voice betrayed the doubt that came stealing over me like a chilly air.

“They sell him only for cash,” said my clerk.  “I saw one of their young men this afternoon, and asked after Mr. B——­’s standing.  He didn’t know anything about him; said B——­was a new man, who bought a moderate cash bill, but was sending in large quantities of goods to be packed—­five or six times beyond the amount of his purchases with them.”

“Is that so!” I exclaimed, rising to my feet, all awake now to the real things which I had permitted a shadow to obscure.

“Just what he told me,” answered my clerk.

“It has a bad look,” said I.  “How large a bill did he make with us?”

The sales book was referred to.  “Seventeen hundred dollars,” replied the clerk.

“What!  I thought he was to buy only to the amount of a thousand dollars?” I returned, in surprise and dismay.

“You seemed so easy about him, sir,” replied the clerk, “that I encouraged him to buy; and the bill ran up more heavily than I was aware until the footing gave exact figures.”

I drew out my watch.  It was close on to half past six.

“I think, Edward,” said I, “that you’d better step round to Kline & Co.’s, and ask if they’ve shipped B——­’s goods yet.  If not, we’ll request them to delay long enough in the morning to give us time to sift the matter.  If B——­’s after a swindling game, we’ll take a short course, and save our goods.”

“It’s too late,” answered my clerk.  “B——­called a little after one o’clock, and gave notes for the amount of his bill.  He was to leave in the five o’clock line for Boston.”

I turned my face a little aside, so that Edward might not see all the anxiety that was pictured there.

“You look very sober, Mr. Mayflower,” said my good wife, gazing at me with eyes a little shaded by concern, as I sat with Arty’s head leaning against my bosom that evening; “as sober as baby looked this morning, after his fruitless shadow chase.”

“And for the same reason,” said I, endeavoring to speak calmly and firmly.