True to his nature, Duncan Forbes scowled heavily for a moment. He
would have sent Mr. Watkins away if his guest had not prevented it.
"As you would be done by, Brother Forbes," he whispered quickly.
The next moment he was gone and Mr. Watkins had entered.
CHAPTER XV.
A PLAIN TRUTH FROM MR. WATKINS.
Duncan Forbes roused himself to hear his second visitor's errand. He
knew that it must be something important, yet he felt bored and
disinterested.
Business matters were far from his thoughts to-day, yet for forty years
they had consumed his entire attention.
Mr. Watkins seemed to be struggling for words--he looked pained and
embarrassed. He shifted his hat from one hand to the other, and his thin
face reddened and paled alternately.
For the first time in his life Duncan Forbes looked upon his assistant
as another man's son--the loved and loving child of another father. It
was a queer sensation; he could not get used to it; then came a memory
of Jack, and his emotion conquered for the moment.
"You are excited, Watkins; sit down," he said huskily. "Something else
has gone wrong at the store, I suppose. Well, let it go; it can wait
until to-morrow."
"No, sir, it can't wait!" blurted out Mr. Watkins.
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