"Yes, sir, unless you could consider a notice to quit work a reward. Mr. Gammon accused Mr. Baxter of being intoxicated, and said we had got caught on the track to tell that story to get out of a bad scrape. I knew it was useless to talk with him, so I have come to you."
"What sort of a job do you want?" asked General Lyons, showing by his tone that he had not been displeased by the boy's story.
"Anything that is honest, sir, and will give me fair wages, with a chance to rise."
"So you have an eye to the future. Perhaps you hope to have the management of a road yourself some time."
"It shall be no fault of mine, sir, if I do not."
"Nobly said, my boy; and it is possible you hope to be superintendent of the Pen Yan."
"I mean to do my best for it, sir." And then, as if frightened by the boldness of his speech, he added, "I only meant to say I am going to do my duty."
"And if you stick to that purpose as faithfully as I think you will, success will at last crown your efforts. I will speak to Mr. Minturn of you and he will doubtless give you a situation. Good-day."
The superintendent turned back to his business problems, and the others in the room followed the example of their chief, disappointed at the sudden termination of the interview.
The boy, however, seemed loth to leave. He started away, went a few steps and paused.