“Just sit down and answer the questions on this card,” said Mr. King. “This is your examination.”
Willie was taken aback. “My examination?” he said. “I don’t understand.”
“This is a Civil Service job you’ve got,” replied Mr. King. “You have to pass an examination before I can regularly appoint you.”
Willie looked a little alarmed.
“You needn’t worry,” smiled the Special Agent. “You’ve been to high school and you will have no difficulty in passing the examination.”
“If this is a Civil Service post,” said Willie, “how could you discharge that other office boy so suddenly?”
“Oh! I got rid of him by promoting him.”
“By promoting him!” gasped Willie.
“Sure. They need a boy in one of the departments here. He has to be a boy on the Civil Service list, who has had at least a little experience. They always get their boys that way. The boys start in my office and move on up.”
“Then I suppose he’s glad he lost his place here.”