“Aren’t the trains running out to Derry any more?”
“Yes, sir, but—but it would cost too much, you see. So I thought maybe if I could get some work here in Amesville——”
“How in tarnation do you expect to work and go to school too?”
“I don’t have to go to school until half-past eight and I’d be all through by three, and I thought if I could find some work to do in the morning before school and then in the afternoon——”
“I see. Well, I guess you wouldn’t be worth much money to anyone, working that way, son.”
“No, sir, that’s what I thought. I wasn’t expecting to get much, either.”
“Weren’t, eh? How much?”
“Well, about——” He hesitated, viewing the merchant anxiously. “Of course I don’t know much about what folks pay, but Uncle Israel said——”
“Hold on a bit,” interrupted Mr. Cummings suspiciously. “Did that old—did Israel Bowles tell you to come to me?”
“No, sir. I just started up at the other end of town and worked along. I’ve been at it most all morning.”