"Why, what's up?" asked the stock-clerk. "What brings you back?"
"Nothing only—I've got a situation for you," replied Richard as coolly as he could, although he could not suppress a hearty smile.
"A situation for me!" ejaculated Frank, in undisguised wonder. "Surely you don't mean it!"
"Don't I though? Just come along and see."
"Where?"
"At Martin's."
"But I thought you had accepted—"
"One position. So I have, but there is another for you. Come along,
I'll tell you all about it on the way."
And Richard got Frank's hat and put it on his friend's head and had him out on the street almost before he could realize it.
At Mr. Martin's store a general explanation followed, and Richard and Frank were hired at a joint salary of sixteen dollars per week. They were to have entire charge of the business, and with the aid of Phil were to do the best they could until they heard from Mr. Martin again, which the storekeeper hoped would be in a few days. The proprietor spent an hour in giving all the instructions he could in that limited time, and then, half distracted, hurried off to catch an early train for Philadelphia.