CHAPTER XII.
TWELVE o'clock of the day on which Ellis was to return the two hundred dollars borrowed of Wilkinson came, and yet he did not appear at the store of the latter, who had several payments to make, and depended on receiving the amount due from his friend.
"Has Mr.Ellis been here ?" asked Wilkinson of his clerk, coming in about noon from a rather fruitless effort to obtain money.
The clerk replied in the negative.
"Nor sent over his check for two hundred dollars ?" "No, sir." "Step down to his store, then, if you please, and say to him from me that he mustn't forget the sum to be returned to-day, as I have two notes yet in bank.

Say also, that if he has any thing over, I shall be glad to have the use of it." The clerk departed on his errand.

In due time he returned, but with no money in his possession.
"Did you see Mr.Ellis ?" asked Wilkinson.
"No, sir," was replied.

"He hasn't been at the store to-day." "Not to-day!" "No, sir." "What's the matter?
Is he sick ?" "His clerk didn't say." Taking up his hat, Wilkinson left his store hurriedly.

In a few minutes he entered that of his friend.
"Where is Mr.Ellis ?" he inquired.
"I don't know, sir," was answered by the clerk.
"Has he been here this morning ?" "No, sir." "He must be sick.