“[Answer.]”
“Wonderful! What a comprehensive dispatch!” murmured Mr. W——, as he folded it and placed it inside his pocket-book.
And, writing this answer, he sealed and sent it at once to the telegraph office:
“G. E. L., No. — Beacon St., Boston:
“Your dispatch received. Every wish expressed shall be faithfully carried out. I will leave to-morrow for California, and return as soon as my mission is fulfilled.
“Edward W——.”
And when the dispatch was gone, Mr. W—— went out to his foreman, and said:
“Mr. Jones, I have heard from Miss Butler. She is well. Her mother is dead. She will remain in Boston a few days, and then return to her duties here. You are at liberty to say this to our people here. To-morrow I shall leave for California, to establish a branch bindery there. You will remain in charge here. Father will come down to see you once in a while, perhaps; but he will not interfere with the work. When Miss Butler returns give her all the time she wishes out of the bindery, and make her duties easy and pleasant as you can. She is a noble girl.”
“That she is, Mr. W——. I’m sorry you are going, but I will do my very best while you are gone, and try to keep everything moving brisk and right.”
“I know you will, Mr. Jones. I have every confidence in you. I also increase your wages on the pay-roll ten dollars a week in consequence of your increased responsibilities. Miss Butler had better come into the office with her work now, and she will help you with the pay-rolls. I shall leave checks to an amount which will keep you square with the hands, no matter what comes in. If more stock is wanted father will see to it.”