[“I Will Go To-day, Mr. Barriscale,” Responded Hal]
But the president began to protest.
“Oh, not to-day, McCormack. I don’t think there is any such haste as that. I don’t think Mr. Barriscale means that you shall go to-day.”
The manufacturer brought the palm of his hand down heavily on the table.
“That is exactly what I mean, Mr. Winton,” he replied; “to-day. We can’t afford to harbor him for a moment longer than we have to. It would be an injustice to our stockholders and depositors.”
To this outburst Hal made no reply. He turned to the president and held out his hand.
“I am grateful to you, Mr. Winton,” he said, “for all the help and encouragement you have given me, and all the patience and kindness you have shown to me since I have been here. Good-bye!”
Amazed, chagrined, and shocked by the suddenness of it all, the president was unable to speak, but he held fast to the boy’s hand with such a grip that Hal was obliged forcibly to withdraw it. When he had done this he bowed formally in the direction of the manufacturer, and turned and left the room. He stopped at the locker to get his hat and one or two of his personal belongings, and then went down the aisle and across the lobby to the big street door. As he passed the cashier’s room that official saw him through the plate-glass window and called to him:
“Oh, McCormack, are you going to lunch? I wish you’d take these letters up to the post-office for me. John is out, and I’m anxious to get them off on the 12:40.”