After a while the ticket agent came in. Seeing the boy sit in such a dejected position and without moving for a long time, he guessed that he was in trouble and in need of help.
“Where are you going, sir?” he asked Austin kindly.
“I hardly know. I have been looking for work among the farmers all day and none of them want to hire me, and I hardly know what to do next,” said Austin.
“Do you live near here?”
“Yes, I have walked from home today; but I do not want to go back if I can avoid it. I want to find work.”
“Had some trouble?”
At this question Austin looked around, and seeing that they were now alone and feeling certain that the man was kindly disposed toward him he told him all, shielding neither his father nor himself. It was so evident that he told the truth that the man believed him.
“Have you any means, or any way of making your expenses while you are looking for work?” was the next question.
“No sir, I have no money, and only want to get work. I have a friend at the next town whom I am quite certain would help me if I could only find him.”
“Have you anything about you that you could sell if you got into a pinch?” again asked the man.