All that summer Jimmy worked very hard. He entered a night school where three evenings a week he studied with a view to getting “dope” on his big idea. He found this study helpful to him in general, but not very useful in giving him specific information on how to burn coal underground, especially since he was determined not to broach the subject directly to any one.
When he had been with the company about a week, Jimmy approached Mr. Hope in the office and thanked him for the job.
“All right,” said the secretary, and smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”
Jimmy felt then that his first impression of Mr. Hope had been quite a wrong one.
“I do,” he answered earnestly. “Thank you very much—did you see Mr. Wentworth yet about that—that idea of mine?”
Mr. Hope looked him steadily in the eyes. “Yes. He said to tell you he’s not interested. Sorry.”
This was hardly a blow to Jimmy, for he had expected as much. But next time he broached the subject—it would be different, then!
“Take my advice, young man,” the secretary went on, “get that foolish stuff out of your head. Stick to your job—you’ll get along—you look as though you had brains.”
“Thanks,” said Jimmy. He tried to avoid sarcasm, “I will.”
Mr. Hope nodded and left him.