“Why? Did you see a sign out in front?” inquired the man.
“A sign? No. Why?”
“Well, sometimes the boys of the neighborhood hang a sign out in front to annoy me. They know I never hire a boy. They do it for a joke, and several lads, in need of work, have been fooled by it.”
“I don’t think that’s a very good joke,” remarked Tom.
“Neither do I,” agreed the proprietor. “No, I don’t want a boy, but I’m glad there’s no foolish sign out in front. How did you come to ask in here?”
“Well, I used to be in Townsend’s store, and as I need work, and every place seems to be one where experience is needed, I thought I’d try a book store.”
“I’m sorry,” went on the man more kindly. “I can’t afford to keep a helper. There’s very little profit in second-hand books, and to hire a boy would eat it all up. I need a boy quite often to deliver books, but I can’t afford to hire one regularly.”
“How often do you need one?”
“Well, about once a day. In fact I wish I had one now to take some books to a man who lives three miles from here. I’ll give you fifty cents and your car fare if you’ll deliver them.”
“I’ll do it,” said Tom, glad of the chance to earn a half dollar.