Fibsy almost fell over. “Gee! Mr. Hoyt, I ain’t worth it!”
“That’s for your new employer to judge. I’ve been telephoning him, and he wants a boy who is wide-awake and not stupid. You ought to fill that bill.”
“Yep, I can do that. Honest, Judge, I’ll do me best, and I’m orfly obliged, sir.”
“Not at all. Can you go this afternoon?”
“Today! Why, I s’pose I can. But it’s terrible sudden.”
“I know it. But Mr. Stetson wants to go away tomorrow, for a few days, and he wants to break you in before he leaves.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. But, oh, say, now,—I jest can’t go off so swift,—honest I can’t Judge, sir.”
“No? And why not?”
“Well, you see, I gotter get some clo’es. Yes, sir, some clo’es. And my sister, she alwus goes with me to buy ’em, an’ she can’t get a day off till tomorrow. An’ then, if the clo’es has to be let out, or let in, you know, why it’d take a little longer. Yes sir, I see now, I couldn’t get off ’fore the first of the week.”
“I’m not sure Mr. Stetson will hold the place for you as long as that.”