“I like you for saying that, too,” declared the district leader warmly. “It is refreshing to meet a young man who is so loyal to his party that he won’t desert it even to advance himself. I am sorry that we can’t have you in our organization, Mr. Sheridan, but I am going to help you, nevertheless; I have taken a great fancy to you, and I am going to see that you get ahead.
“Tell me a little about yourself,” he went on. “How long have you been in the postal service?”
“Nine months,” answered Owen.
“And what is your ambition? Surely, a bright young chap like you doesn’t intend to remain a carrier all his life?”
“Not if I can help it,” replied Owen, with a smile. “I am looking for the job of post-office inspector. That’s what caused me to enter the service.”
“Ah!” murmured Coggswell; “a post-office inspector, eh? You know a good thing when you see it, don’t you? Got any pull?”
“No, I haven’t. But I’m studying hard, and I think I shall soon be able to take the examinations, and——”
A loud laugh from Boss Coggswell interrupted him.[{50}] “The examinations? Pshaw! They won’t get you very far unless you’ve got a pretty strong pull, besides.”
He looked keenly at the young man, and lowered his voice a trifle as he went on:
“Now, as I presume you are aware, I have considerable influence at Washington. I think I shall use that influence to get you what you want, Mr. Sheridan.”