"I am glad you are here, Dare," he said. "I saw Mr. Williams last night and he gave you a good recommendation. But he was almost afraid you had not had enough experience in the retail trade to take charge, which just at present you would have to do, because I must go to Philadelphia by the first afternoon train by the latest."
Richard's hopes fell.
"I will do the best I can, Mr. Martin," he said, earnestly. "Although
I'll admit I thought to come here only to help, and—"
"Yes, yes, I understand; and that is all right," interrupted the storekeeper, hastily. "I expected to stay, up to last night, but now I must go. If I could only get some one here besides you, some one who understood customers. Phil can help some, but he is too young."
"I know the very person!" exclaimed Richard. "He has had just the experience you desire, and I can get him at once, too."
And Richard told Mr. Martin about Frank Massanet.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Williams mentioned him to me. Do you think he can come to-day?"
"Yes, sir. I'll go at once and find out."
"Do so; I'll promise that you shall lose nothing by it," returned Mr.
Martin.
In a moment Richard was on his way back to the house. He found Frank just finishing breakfast.