CHAPTER XIII
SARDOU
About a week later James went to the head of his firm, the classmate's father who had offered him his position, and asked for a few days' leave of absence.
"Why didn't you go to Smith?" said his employer, naming the head of the department in which James was working.
"I didn't think he'd let me off without your leave, sir."
"Hm.... You must go, must you?"
"I'm afraid I must. Indeed, I'm bound to say, sir, that I shall go, leave or no leave."
"Hm. Well, you can go; but if you take more than half a week it'll have to come off your annual vacation."
"Thank you, sir, I shan't need more than that," said James and the interview was closed. No word was spoken of the reason for James' departure. Jonathan McClellan, founder and owner of the McClellan Automobile Company, knew a thing or two beside how to run an automobile business. He also read the papers.