Brady was busy buying some powder, and did not at first see him. But on turning he nodded pleasantly.
"I wonder what he wants with powder?" thought Ralph. "I did not know surveyors used it."
But then it crossed his mind that perhaps the man used it for firearms when surveying in wild parts of the country, and he did not give the matter a second thought. He waited until Dock Brady had paid for his purchase and left, and then told the storekeeper of his decision.
"All right, Nelson," said Mr. Dunham. "You can go to work at seven o'clock to-morrow morning. Let me see, you live in Westville, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Some of the circulars are to go there, and also back to Hopeville. Supposing you take them with you now, and start out distributing them from your home, instead of coming here? It will save time."
To this Ralph readily agreed, and, after some few instructions concerning the work to be done, quitted the store with a big package of the circulars under his arm.
Although he had struck no regular employment, he was not as disappointed as he might have been. There was a week's work to do, and then the peddling to try, and that was something.
"I knew it would be difficult to obtain an opening," said Mrs. Nelson, on hearing his story. "Times are hard, and you can be thankful that you have even a little."
"I am thankful, mother," replied Ralph.