se the process is so much quicker;
chrome takes but about nine hours while quebracho tanning takes two
weeks or thereabouts."

"I see. And after the tanning?"

"The skins are inspected while wet and sorted for stock; they are then
stamped with a letter or number so they can be identified; they are
fat-liquored, and are dyed."

"What is fat-liquored?"

"Fat-liquored means working the skins about in a mixture of soap and oil
until they absorb these softening ingredients and become pliable. All
leather, whether chrome or vegetable tanned, has to go through this
process. The liquid is put into paddle-wheels just as the tanning
mixture is. The dyeing is done in paddle-wheels too, and some kinds of
leather have in addition a coat of dye rubbed into them by hand. It
gives them a better surface."

"What is your work, Jackson?" asked Peter.

"Oh, I've done about everything there is to do in a beamhouse. Just now
I am inspecting and sorting the skins after they are tanned."

"What is Mr. Bryant going to set me at?"

"I don't know. You will have to ask him. But no matter what he gives you
to do you must not be discouraged, Strong. You were lucky to get any job
at all in the tannery. They have turned away lots of boys your age--they
do it every day."

Peter bit his lip to keep from smiling.

"I suppose I ought to consider myself lucky," replied he.

"Well, aren't you? To be young, and well, and to know that if you do
your best you have a chance to work up to something better? I think
it's great! I intend to work up. Some day I may be a partner in
Coddingtons'--who knows! Then I'll dress my mother in silk every day in
the week and I'll buy an automobile. I'd like to ride in one of those
things just once. Did you ever?"

"Yes," admitted Peter cautiously.

"Honest? Wasn't it bully? Where did you go?"

But Peter was spared the difficult task of replying. Instead, Bryant
summoned him, and he was given a wheel-barrow filled with wet skins
which were to be carried from the soaking vats to the lime pits. All the
rest of the morning back and forth he trudged wheeling load after load.
It was stupid, dirty work, and he was glad when the noon whistle blew.

"Let's eat our luncheon together, Strong," said Jackson, "that
is--unless you have somebody else you want to lunch with."

Peter assented only too gladly. It was far pleasanter to have a boy his
own age to speak to than to eat by himself. Besides he liked Jackson.

But