Back in the store the grocer had stood undecided what to do. The
knowledge that his ward had been informed of the bequest, a fact which
he supposed was known only to himself, had unnerved him. And the failure
of his attempt to get the letter and thus destroy all evidence of the
trust fund, had caused him to be seized with a great fear lest
retribution should be visited upon him.

Instead, therefore, of going in pursuit of Bob, his one idea was to
conceal himself. Going to the front door of the shop, he closed it and
locked it and then betook himself to his private office, the door of
which he also shut, and sitting down in the chair buried his head in his
hands and tried to think what was best for him to do.

But his sense of guilt would not let him rest, and in the thought that
Bob might seek some lawyer and place the matter in his hands, which
would mean a visit to the grocery store and the necessity of making
embarrassing explanations, the dishonest guardian determined to go away
for a few hours at least. No sooner had he made up his mind upon this
course of action than he seized his hat, stole from his room, glided
across the floor to the front door, listened a moment for the sound of
voices, or any other indication that people were passing, then hurriedly
turned the key in the door, stepped outside, locked the door again, and
after a furtive glance up and down the street, slunk away, keeping close
to the buildings, for all the world like a dog that was hounded, rather
than a man.

It was because of this action on the part of Mr. Dardus in closing his
store that Foster was unable to gain admittance when he arrived half an
hour later, having come for the purpose of seeing the boy he had
championed so effectively, and of assisting in a reconciliation between