They had called me in to consult with me on a big job which they were trying to figure down to the very lowest point. They were willing to get out of it with the smallest possible margin of profit for the advertisement it would give them and in view of future contracts with the same firm which it might bring. The largest item in it was the handling of the dirt. They showed me their blue prints and their rough estimate and then Mr. Corkery said:
"How much can you take off that, Carleton?"
I told him I would need two or three hours to figure it out. He called a clerk.
"Give Carleton a desk," he said.
Then he turned to me:
"Stay here until you've done it," he said.
It took me all the forenoon. I worked carefully because it seemed to me that here was a big chance to prove myself. I worked at those figures as though I had every dollar I ever hoped to have at stake. I didn't trim it as close as I would have done for myself but as it was I took off a fifth—the matter of five thousand dollars. When I came back, Mr. Corkery looked over my figures.
"Sure you can do that?" he asked.
I could see he was surprised.
"Yes, sir," I said.