"You will find it best to do so while I am in charge. Now, don't stand gaping there, but go to work."
Andy was moved to an angry reply, but thought it prudent to refrain. He realized that for three weeks, and probably longer, he was to be at the mercy of a man who evidently disliked him.
How he should be able to stand it he did not know. He determined, however, to do his duty as well as he knew how, and not to reply when the head clerk was insolent and abusive.
About an hour later Simon Rich gave him a postal, which he directed him to drop in the nearest mail boX. — It was addressed to John Crandall, Andy's predecessor, and ran thus:
"DEAR JOHN: Come around as soon as you can. I have news for you.
Your uncle,
SIMON RICH."
About four o'clock John Crandall entered the store.
"Andrew," said Rich, "you may go to the branch post office at Ninth Street and get a dollar's worth of postage stamps."
Andy understood that stamps were not needed, and that the errand was devised to get him out of the way. However it was his duty to obey.
When he was fairly out of the store, John asked, with some curiosity:
"What is the news you were going to tell me, Uncle Simon?"