“Take me a week on trial,” he said; “give me my board and as much more as you think I am worth.”
“That’s fair. When do you want to come?”
“I can come now—or rather in an hour. I shall want to go to the hotel where I am stopping and get my carpet-bag.”
“Very well. I will engage you for a week on trial. When you return with your carpet-bag, my wife will give you a room.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be right back.”
Tom breathed a sigh of relief. He had secured a place just in time. In less than two days his money would be exhausted, and he would be compelled either to beg or starve. What wages he might get in the place so unexpectedly opened to him he did not know, or care very much. The main advantage was, that he was saved from the heavy expense of a hotel bill. As to the business, he did not think he should like it for a permanent employment, but it would enable him to live while he was looking about for something better. In the meantime he could keep his eyes open, for he had not forgotten that his chief object in this expedition was to discover the defaulting clerk, whose dishonesty had so largely affected his own means.
In less than an hour Tom was back in the store and receiving his first lessons in the prices of articles for sale.
CHAPTER XXV
TOM IN A TIGHT PLACE.
