“There’s the missing copy,” he said. “Peter, you can go downstairs, get what money is coming to you, and go. We don’t want you here any more.”
“All right,” growled Peter sullenly.
He turned to leave. As he passed Larry he muttered in a low turn:
“This is all your fault. Wait until I get a chance! I’ll pay you back all right, all right!”
Then, before Larry could answer, Peter shuffled down the hall. And that was the end of Peter on the Leader, though it was by no means the last Larry saw of him.
Thus the first day of Larry’s life on a big newspaper came to a close and it was with considerable pride that he started for home. He felt he had done well, though he had made one or two mistakes. He was a little worried about what pay he was going to get, and he had a little fear lest he might be paid nothing while learning.
His fears were set at rest, however, when, as he was going out of the door, Mr. Emberg called to him.
“Well, Larry, how do you like it?”
“First-rate,” said Larry heartily.
“I forgot to tell you about your money,” the city editor went on. “You will get five dollars a week to start, and, as you improve, you will be paid more. Perhaps you’ll become a reporter some day.”