"Oh, yes, sir; I have seen you often on the train."
"I can return the compliment, my young friend," said Bradford, smiling, "but I am not familiar with your name."
"My name is not quite so well known as yours, Mr. Bradford. I am Paul Palmer, at your service!"
"Paul Palmer! The name sounds very well, my boy. Some day it may be well known, too. I was not very conspicuous myself at your age. Come, now, how much do you manage to earn in the course of a week?"
"I seldom fall short of seven dollars. Sometimes I get up as high as ten."
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"At your age I was earning about half as much as you."
"But you didn't depend on it, sir?"
"Yes, I did. I was a poor boy; had to paddle my own canoe, just as you are doing—had a mother to help, too."