“I think you'll like it here,” said Frank Randolph. “It's the best hotel I've ever worked in. Mr. Drew is a perfect gentleman.”
“I am glad to hear it, Frank,” answered our hero.
The room assigned to the two boys was a small one on the top floor of the hotel. But it was clean, contained two nice cots, and Joe felt it would suit him very well. Frank had hung up a few pictures and had a shelf full of books and this made the apartment look quite home-like.
“I'm going to buy some books myself, this winter,” said Joe. “And when I get time I am going to do some studying.”
“I'm studying myself, Joe. I never had much schooling,” returned Frank.
“Are you alone in the world?”
“No, my father is living. But he is rather sickly and lives with an uncle of mine, over in Camden. He can't work very much, and that is why I have to support myself. Are you alone?”
“Yes. I think my father is living but I can't locate him.”
The next day and for several days following Joe pitched into work in earnest. Many things were strange to him, but he determined to master them as speedily as possible, and this pleased Arthur Drew.
“That boy is all right,” he said to his cashier. “I am glad that Andrew Mallison brought him to me.”