“On hand, I see, my young friend. Well, how did you make out? Did you obtain a position?”
“No, sir.”
“It’s rather hard. Mr. Grice!” he called out.
The foreman of the book-bindery came in and Jerry was introduced to him. Quite a chat followed, at the end of which Jerry was hired to work in the stock department at a salary of six dollars a week.
The salary was not large, but it would pay his expenses, and that was all he wished for at present.
“I won’t have to write home for money,” he thought.
Mr. Grice wanted Jerry to come to work immediately, but our hero begged to speak to Mr. Islen in private for a moment, and when they were left alone told his story from beginning to end.
The rich book-binder listened with interest, and tapped meditatively upon his desk when Jerry had finished.
“This is rather a strange story, Upton,” he said. “What would you like me to do?”
“I would like you to give me some advice, sir. What had I best do?”