“Fired you because you was sick, did he, the pup? What do you know about that? Sit down and rest yourself, lad.” He perched himself on the stool and became busy with a pile of waybills on the desk, talking as he worked. “And so you’re out of a job again, are you? I suppose a smart lad like you can figure and write a good fist, maybe?”
“I can figure,” replied Wayne, “but I don’t believe my writing’s much to boast of.”
“Here, put your name and your address on that.” Jim pushed a slip of paper to the end of the desk and dipped a pen in ink.
Wayne wrote and handed the result back. “‘Wayne Torrence Sloan,’” read Jim, “‘Carhurst, Medfield, Pennsylvania.’ That’s not so bad. But what might ‘Carhurst’ mean?”
Wayne explained and the man chuckled. “It’s a fine-sounding name all right,” he said. “How’d you like a job here with me, Sloan? I been looking for a feller for a week. There’s a guy up to Springdale that wants the place, and he’s coming down this afternoon to see me, but—I don’t know.” Jim looked out the window and whistled a tune thoughtfully. “He mightn’t do at all,” he went on after a moment, “and if you say you want to try it——”
“I do!” said Wayne promptly. “That is, if you think I could.”
Jim turned and looked him over appraisingly. “I don’t see why not. If you can figure and write a bit and do as I tell you, you’d have no trouble. And you look like a strong, healthy lad, although your face is sort of pale. That comes of being sick, I guess. ’Tain’t all office work, for you’ll have to be out in the yard a good deal. You’d be here at eight in the morning—I’m here long before, but you wouldn’t need to be—and get off at five, with an hour for dinner. The pay ain’t much, only eight dollars, but if you got on there might be something better; maybe a place in the main office. Want to try it?”
“Very much,” said Wayne.
“All right then. Maybe I can head that feller at Springdale off and save him a trip.” He drew a telegram blank from a pigeonhole and wrote slowly and laboriously. “Maybe I’m taking a chance, lad, for I don’t know much about you, do you see, and you haven’t any references, but a feller that shows pluck like you did awhile ago can’t have much wrong with him, I’m thinking. There, I’ll put this on the wire. Be around at eight sharp in the morning, lad, and I’ll put you to work. Better come a bit before eight, though, so’s I can tell you what’s wanted before the rush starts. Got any money?”