“The duties were different. Almost any boy could discharge the duties of an entry clerk while it takes peculiar qualities to run a hotel.”
“I was certainly very fortunate to fall in with you, Mr. Pettigrew.”
“I expect it will turn out fortunate for me too, Rodney.”
“When do you want me to start in?”
“Next Monday morning. It is now Thursday evening. Mr. Bailey will turn over the hotel to me on Saturday night. You needn’t go to the mines tomorrow, but may remain in the hotel, and he will instruct you in the details of management.”
“That will be quite a help to me, and I am at present quite ignorant on the subject.”
Rodney looked forward with pleasure to his new employment. He had good executive talent, though thus far he had had no occasion to exercise it. It was with unusual interest that he set about qualifying himself for his new position.
“Young man,” said the veteran landlord, “I think you’ll do. I thought at first that Jefferson was foolish to put a young boy in my place, but you’ve got a head on your shoulders, you have! I guess you’ll fill the bill.”
“I hope to do so, Mr. Bailey.”
“Jefferson tells me that you understand Latin and Greek?”