Chester had a talk with his mother that evening. She felt indignant at Silas Tripp’s meanness, but advised Chester to remain in the store for the present.
“I’d rather work anywhere else for two dollars,” said Chester, bitterly.
It would be humiliating enough to accept the reduction, but he felt that duty to his mother required the sacrifice. He started on his way to the store in the morning, prepared to notify Mr. Tripp that he would remain, but he found that it was too late. Just before he reached the store, he met Abel Wood, a loose-jointed, towheaded boy, with a stout body and extraordinarily long legs, who greeted him with a grin.
“I’m goin’ to work in your place Monday mornin’,” he said.
“Has Mr. Tripp spoken to you?” asked Chester, his heart sinking.
“Yes, he said you was goin’ to leave. What’s up?”
“Mr. Tripp cut down my wages,” said Chester. “I couldn’t work for two dollars and a half.”
“He’s only goin’ to give me two and a quarter.”
“You can afford to work for that. Your father’s got steady work.”
“Yes, but all the same I’ll ask for more in a few weeks. Where are you goin’ to work?”