“Something didn’t suit,” he murmured to himself. “Rain or no rain, I’m going to try to follow that cab.”
He started off at once in the direction the cab had taken, running as fast as the slippery pavement would allow.
But though he traversed several blocks, no vehicle of any kind outside of a horse-car appeared in sight, and finally he was forced to abandon the chase.
On the following day Bob and Mr. Starleigh had a long talk in regard to the youth’s future. The upshot of this talk was that Bob agreed to work for nothing for two weeks, providing the old photographer would teach him as much of the business as possible in that length of time.
Bob was slightly worried over the question of what to do with his horse and wagon during that time, but Mr. Maverick solved it by telling Bob to leave the turn-out in charge of the stable-hand until he started away from Stampton.
The two weeks passed rapidly, and Bob spent every hour of the time in devouring every item of information which might prove useful to him while taking pictures on the road.
During that time Grace Maverick came to the studio to have her picture taken. Mr. Starleigh allowed Bob to do the work, which proved highly satisfactory. When Bob printed and mounted the pictures, he made an extra one, but this did not go among the studio samples.
“I’ll keep that for my own,” said Bob to himself.
At length the day came for Bob to quit the studio. Mr. Starleigh shook him warmly by the hand.
“I am sorry to lose you, Bob,” he said. “But I am glad you are going to start on your own account with such bright prospects. I have taught you all in my power, and you ought to be able to get along very well.”