cting you."

Peter followed through the central aisle of the long room and entered
the small, glass-enclosed space where a man surrounded by a chaos of
papers and letters was sitting at a roll-top desk.

"This, Mr. Tyler, is young Strong," announced the bookkeeper to the
superintendent.

"I am glad to see you, Strong."

So sharply did his eye sweep over Peter that the boy trembled lest this
oracle suddenly announce:

"I know all about you. Your name is not Strong at all. You are Peter
Coddington, and you have been sent to the mill because you flunked your
examinations."

Nothing of the sort happened, however. The superintendent merely
remarked with a nod: "That will do, Carter. You may go."

Peter heard the latch click as Mr. Carter went out.

"Well, young man, so you want a job in the tannery?" were Mr. Tyler's
next words.

"Yes, sir."

"Mr. Coddington telephoned me about you. He told me that you are
entirely inexperienced and with no knowledge of the business. I should
say the only thing for you to do is to begin at the very bottom of the
ladder, if you want to make anything of yourself."

"I suppose so, sir."

The superintendent tilted back in his chair and carefully studied the
lad before him.

"You look able-bodied."

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Not afraid of work?"

Peter hesitated.

"I don't mind working if I like what I'm doing, sir," he replied with
naive truthfulness.

It was obvious that the honest reply pleased Mr. Tyler.

"I guess that is the way with many of us, Strong," he laughed. "But if
you are to have a position here you will have to stick at your work
whether you like it or not."

"I mean to try to."

"That's the proper spirit. You are not afraid of getting your hands
dirty?"

Peter laughed contemptuously. Later he remembered that laugh and smiled
grimly at his own ignorance.

Mr. Tyler seemed satisfied.

"Well, I can set you to work right away unloading skins," he said. "We
are short-handed and can use a boy to advantage. Are you over sixteen?"

"No, sir, I am fifteen."

"That's bad. I don't like to take these eight-hour boys. The time we
want workmen most is in the early morning and at closing time. Those are
the very hours you under-age fellows are not here. However, since you
have come at Mr. Coddington's recommendation we'll have to get on
without you the best way we can. Strong, your name is! Do you know Mr.
Coddington personally?"

"I've known him all my life," wa