“I know that; but it wouldn’t pay me to go out of town as long as mother lives here.”
“That’s true. Well, Tom, I hope you will find something to do. You may depend on hearing from me when I have a vacancy.”
Tom thanked him and left the shop. He had been kindly received; but kind words wouldn’t pay the baker’s and grocer’s bills, and he felt rather sober.
A few rods from Casey’s shop he met his friend Harry Julian, who also expressed his surprise at seeing Tom on the street at that time in the day.
Tom gave an explanation.
Harry looked concerned, for he was strongly attached to Tom, and he very well understood what a serious matter it was to him and his mother for him to be out of work.
He reflected a moment, and his face brightened as something occurred to him.
“Tom,” he said, “will you do me a favor?”
“Of course I will, Julian.”
“Then let me lend you this,” and before Tom understood what he meant, he had thrust something into his vest-pocket.