“Where will you have it, sir?” he asked.
The machinist gasped.
“Well—you’re—no—baby! Bring it over here.”
Frank obeyed and put it down as directed.
“That’s all right, young fellow,” said the machinist; “but I advise you not to keep it up. If you do, you’ll find all the heavy lifts shouldered onto you. I see you are new here. Don’t be too ambitious to show what you can do.”
“Thank you for the advice,” said Merry, quietly.
Then he looked around to discover something else to do, and it was not long before he found a task shoveling ashes. He was working steadily at this when the foreman passed.
Frank expected the foreman would stop and say something to him, but the man did not seem to notice him at all.
“All right,” thought Merry, grimly. “You told me to come prepared for work, and I’m here. I’m going to work, too.”
He found plenty to be done, and also discovered that the other wipers took great satisfaction in giving him the very dirtiest jobs. Still he did not complain, but, no matter what he was asked to do, he kept about his work steadily and quietly.