But the Vermonter said:
“Why don’t you make Mr. Merriwell an offer, Mr. Haley? He’s a gol darn hustler, an’ he’s aout of a job jest naow. Mebbe yeou could git him.”
“It’s not likely he knows anything about the business,” said the manager, looking Frank over.
“Waal,” declared Gallup, “yeou’ll find he kin l’arn ther quickest of anybody yeou ever see. I’ll reckermend him.”
“Und I vos anodder,” put in Hans.
“Are you looking for an opening, Mr. Merriwell?” asked the manager.
“I am looking for some kind of a job,” confessed Frank. “Must do something, you know.”
“You seem like a bright young man. Perhaps we might agree, if you are willing to take hold and do not expect too much money at first.”
Somehow the idea of going on the road with a show appealed to Frank. Had he been working at anything steady just then he would not have thought of giving up his job to take such an engagement; but he was doing nothing, and any kind of a job was preferable to idleness.
“I don’t know,” he said, slowly. “I haven’t thought about going into such work, but——”