"I certainly shall now. At first I was on the fence about it, for I wanted to get with a tragedy company. But I suppose this will do for a stepping stone to something better."
Robert had his doubts about this, for Palmer had recited several times for him, and he had thought the recitations very poor. But the senior clerk was thoroughly stage-struck, and Robert felt that it would do no good to argue the matter with him.
"Your leaving may throw Mr. Gray into a worse hole than ever," he ventured.
"Oh, I guess not. He will have you to fall back on. I doubt if he will be able to resume business immediately."
Livingston Palmer was right in the latter surmise. The next day Robert found his employer in an office on the opposite side of the street.
"I am all upset, Frost," said Mr. Gray. "The safe has dropped to the bottom of the ruins and it will be a week or two before they can dig it out."
"Shall you resume at once?"
"I hardly think so. The fact is, I have telegraphed to my brother in New York about business there. It may be that I shall open up in that city instead of here."
"Then I fancy I can consider myself disengaged for the present."
"Yes. I am sorry for you, but you can see it cannot be helped."