xpect so."

Sam wanted to laugh, but concealed his emotions.

"Where is it?" he asked.

"It isn't in you father's mill," retorted Ben.

"No, I suppose not. Is it in town?"

"It is in Boston!" said Ben, in a tone of satisfaction.

Sam laughed involuntarily.

"What are you laughing at?" inquired Ben angrily.

"Excuse me," said Sam. "I was thinking how green you would be at
first in a city place. I will call and see you when I go to the city."

"I don't like to be impolite; but as you prevented my getting a place
here, I don't look upon you as a friend, and I only care to receive
calls from my friends."

"How proud we are just because we have got a place in Boston!"
said Sam mockingly, and he laughed again.

"I thought he would be disappointed to hear of my success," thought
Ben. "He is rather a queer boy."

"Isn't it jolly?" said Sam to himself. "Won't he be mad when he finds
it all a sell?"

Chapter XXIV

Ben Arrives in Boston

Ben set out for Boston on Monday morning in very good spirits. His
aunt shed a few tears at parting. She was apt to take depressing
views of the future, and said; "I hope you'll prosper, Ben," in a tone
which implied that she did not think there was more than one chance
in ten of his success. But Ben understood his aunt, and did not allow
her presentiments to weigh with him. His motto was still, "Wait and
Hope."

Ben found himself seated beside a young man of pleasant
appearance, who was attracted by our hero's frank and manly look.

"I suppose you are going to Boston," he said.

"Yes," answered Ben readily.

"Have you got a place there?"

"I am going to have," said Ben cheerfully.

"Do you mind telling where?"

"Oh, no," said Ben; "I am going to the store of Jones & Porter."

"Indeed! There are very prominent business men."

"I suppose they are," said Ben.

"Do you know them personally?"

"I don't know them at all. I think some friend of mine must have
mentioned me to them."

"It's rather singular that I shouldn't know anything about your
engagement," said the young man.

"Why should you?" inquired Ben, in natural surprise.

"The fact is, I am Mr. Porter's nephew, and am a salesman in the
establishment," said the young man. He drew from his pocket a
business card, bearing the name.

HENRY W. PORTER

With Jones and Porter

Ben was rather disturbed, and he thought: "Can there be anything
wrong?"

He said aloud: "I don't see how