David Mullins did not reply, but he dug his pen viciously into the paper on which he was writing a receipt, and scowled, but as his back was turned to his employer, the latter did not see it.
When Mrs. Carlin had left the office, Chester thought it best to introduce himself.
“I am Chester Rand, from Wyncombe,” he said. “Mr. Conrad came round to introduce me, but you were not in.”
“Ah, yes, you have come to be my office boy. I am glad to see you and hope you will like the city. Mr. Mullins, you will set this boy to work.”
“He told me he was to work here, but as you had not mentioned it I thought there must be some mistake. He says he doesn’t know much about the city.”
“Neither did I when I first came here from a country town.”
“It will be rather inconvenient, sir. Now, my cousin whom I mentioned to you is quite at home all over the city.”
“I am glad to hear it. He will find this knowledge of service—in some other situation,” added Mr. Fairchild, significantly.
David Mullins bit his lip and was silent. He could not understand why Felix Gordon, his cousin, had failed to impress Mr. Fairchild favorably. He had not noticed that Felix entered the office with a cigarette in his mouth, which he only threw away when he was introduced to the real estate agent.
“I’ll have that boy out of this place within a month, or my name isn’t David Mullins,” he said to himself.