CHAPTER XV.
LOOKING FOR WORK.
Mrs. Nelson was surprised to see Ralph come in almost soaked to the skin from the rain.
"Why, Ralph, why didn't you go under shelter!" she cried.
"Because I couldn't get under," he laughed, and then he explained that he had been on the lake instead of over to Eastport.
"And I've earned two dollars by the operation," he added.
"I am thankful you escaped injury by the storm," she shuddered. "It must have been fearful out on the water."
"It was pretty rough, I admit," he said. "But it is over now, and no harm done."
"You had better change your clothes before you sit down to eat."
"I will," said Ralph, and went upstairs for that purpose.
When he came down again he found the evening meal on the table, and, being hungry, he ate his full share.
Mother and son spent a quiet evening at home, and retired early. In the morning Ralph was up before sunrise, putting things in order around the house.
By eight o'clock he was on his way to Eastport. As he was crossing the bridge, Dan Pickley stopped him.
"Ain't you got an extra key to the bridge lock?" he asked. "I want one for myself and one for Andy Wilson, who is going to help me."
"There is but one key," returned Ralph. "I always left that in a safe place in the office, and whoever was here used it."
"Then you ain't got a duplicate?"
"No, I tell you."
"Oh, all right," responded Dan Pickley, and he pursed his lips. He was about to say more, but suddenly changed his mind.
Somewhat perplexed by Pickley's strange manner, the boy continued on his way, and a few minutes later found himself in the thriving town for which he had been bound.
Ralph had no definite place in view. But he knew that the best thing to do was to seek employment systematically. He resolved to walk to the extreme end of the town and apply at every store and factory that presented itself.
"Then, if there is any vacancy at all, I am bound to locate it," he said to himself.
His first visit was paid to a large shoe factory, located directly by the lakeside.
"I am looking for a place," he began to the foreman, when that individual waved him away and pointed to a sign over the door, which the boy had not seen, and which read:
"No More Hands Wanted."
"Excuse me, but I did not see the sign," said Ralph, politely, and walked off.
After this came another shoe factory, at which the boy fared no better; indeed, he fared worse, for the foreman, a burly Irishman, ordered him out very rudely.
"They don't believe in being very civil," thought Ralph. "However, one must expect some hard knocks in this world."
At a planing-mill the boy fell in with a young man whom he knew quite well. The young man's name was Harry Ford, and he treated Ralph kindly.
"Very sorry, Ralph, but there is no opening," he said. "Only last week we discharged two young fellows because we could not keep them going. Orders are rather slack."
"Then there is nothing at all open?"
Harry Ford shook his head.
"I'll ask the boss if he'll take you on, but I am certain it will do no good."
The owner of the mill came in just then, and he was appealed to. He at once said he could not possibly take on a new hand.
"If an opening occurs I'll keep you in mind," said Harry Ford, and with this promise Ralph had to be content.
After leaving the planing-mill, the boy came to several stores. At the first and second no help of any kind was needed. At the third they wanted a boy to distribute circulars.
"The job will last for a week," said the storekeeper, "for I want the circulars distributed in every place in Eastport, Westville, and all the summer boarding-houses and hotels in the neighborhood."
"And how much are you willing to pay?" asked Ralph.
"I'll give you four dollars for the week if you do the work properly. I won't have any circulars wasted."
Ralph hesitated. Four dollars was not much, but it was better than nothing.
"I am looking for a steady place," he said. "But if I can't find it, I'll take the job," he said.
"I want the circulars to go out as soon as possible. They advertise my summer sporting goods, and the season is now pretty well advanced."
"Will you keep the place open for me until this evening?"
"What is your name?"
"Ralph Nelson. I used to be the bridge tender."
"Oh, yes, I thought I had seen you before. All right, Nelson; I'll wait until six o'clock to hear from you."
"Thank you, Mr. Dunham. I'll let you know one way or the other by that time," said Ralph.
When the boy left the store he found it was already noon. He had a lunch with him, and, strolling down to the water's edge, he sat on a little dock and ate it.
He had just about finished when a rowboat came into view. There was a single occupant at the oars. It was Percy Paget.
"Hallo, there! what are you doing here?" cried the young bully, as he ran up to the dock and leaped ashore.
"Taking it easy," returned Ralph, coolly.
"Indeed!" said Percy, sarcastically. "Plenty of time for that now, I suppose."
"Yes, I have more time on my hands than I care to have, Percy."
"Don't call me Percy! I am not an intimate of yours, Ralph Nelson!"
"All right; just as you please."
"If you had treated me like a gentleman on the bridge you wouldn't be out of a job now," went on the fashionable bully.
"We won't talk about that," returned Ralph, sharply.
And then, to see how late it was, he drew out his new watch and consulted it.
"Where did you get that watch?" questioned Percy, on catching sight of the golden time-piece.
"It was made a present to me," replied Ralph, and he smiled at the young aristocrat's evident wonder.
"A present to you?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"A couple of days ago."
"For your faithful work on the bridge, I suppose," sneered the rich youth.
"Partly for that, and partly for something else."
"Who gave it to you?"
"A rich lady and her daughter."
"You are talking in riddles, Ralph Nelson," cried Percy, more than half angry at Ralph's short replies.
"Well, then, since you are so curious, let me tell you that the watch, chain, and charm were presented to me by Miss Julia Carrington and her mother. Now are you satisfied?"
The shot told. Percy colored to the roots of his reddish hair, and drew down the corners of his mouth.
"Do you mean to tell me that Julia Carrington really gave you that as a present?" he ejaculated.
"Yes."
"Because you stopped their team for them?"
"Yes. They were very thankful to me for what they called my bravery."
"Humph! Anybody could have done as much. That team wasn't much to stop."
"It's a pity you didn't stop them then. You were in the carriage, I understand."
"I was thrown out, or there wouldn't have been any trouble," growled Percy.
"They said you sprang out as soon as you imagined there was danger."
"It isn't so. I'll bet you asked them for the watch—or for some reward," went on the young aristocrat, maliciously.
"Not by a good deal; it is not my style, Percy Paget."
"Humph! A low upstart like you——"
"Stop right there!" cried Ralph.
"I won't! You are——"
"If you don't stop I'll pitch you into the lake!"
"You can't do it, Ralph Nelson. You are nothing but a miserable beggar, not fit for decent folks to associate with. If I had my say——"
Percy got no further. With doubled-up fists Ralph advanced upon him. The rich young bully saw his danger, and, in sudden alarm for his personal safety, began to retreat.
He did not notice where he was going, and his heel struck upon a board which stuck up above the rest of the flooring of the dock. He tripped backward, and went with a splash into the lake.