“I shall feel rich. It is two dollars more than I received at my last place. When am I to go to work?”
“To-morrow. The mailing clerk has got a better place, and that makes an opening for you.”
“And I owe this good fortune to you,” said Edward, gratefully. “How can I repay you?”
“By being my friend!”
“That I shall be—for life!” replied Edward, fervently.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
AFTER A YEAR.
A year passed. Chester remained in the service of The Phœnix, which had become an established success. His artistic work was so satisfactory that his salary had been raised from twenty-five to thirty dollars per week. Yet he had not increased his personal expenses, and now had nearly a thousand dollars deposited in different savings banks.
He had concealed the extent of his prosperity from his mother, meaning in time to surprise her agreeably.