He squinted at the check, turned it over carefully.
‘No good this way,’ he said sadly. ‘Ain’t been endorsed. Your ma would have t’ sign it before I could take it.’
‘I’m afraid that is impossible, Mr. Tilton.’
‘Seems t’ me that way. Is that all you’ve got?’
‘Every cent.’
‘Well, well! Suppose I’ll have to take p’session. Huh, huh! Well, you stay here to-night, and move out t’morrow. I lose money on it, but can’t be helped. Did yore mother have a nice funeral? Queer woman. Don’t suppose many folks went to see her off. Well, I’ll be goin’.’
And the next morning Rex Morgan took his first job. Jerry, the big stable-man, showed him how to harness a horse. Jerry had barely gone past the primary grades in school, but he knew horses. Rex was afraid of being stepped on by the two big grays which he was supposed to drive, and he was as white as a sheet when he drove them through the narrow alley and out into the street in front of the grocery store.
He kept repeating under his breath: ‘Pull left line to turn left; right line to turn right, and both lines to stop them.’
The horses knew where to go, and he had no difficulty in swinging them around to the front door. Amos Weed looked quizzically at him.
‘Didn’t expect yuh to handle ’em so soon,’ he said. ‘Was goin’ to have Slim drive for yuh to-day. But I guess you’ll do. C’mon in and load up. First delivery almost ready.’