ery particular to know, and will lose a night's rest if you don't find
out."

"I wouldn't give you a dollar a week."

"Then I'm glad I aint goin' to work for you."

"I don't believe your story at all. I don't think Mr. Rockwell would be
such a fool as to overpay you so much."

"P'r'aps I shouldn't be the only one in the establishment that is
overpaid," observed Dick.

"Do you mean me, you young rascal?" demanded the book-keeper, now very
angry.

"Don't call names. It isn't polite."

"I demand an answer. Do you mean to say that I am overpaid?"

"Well," said Dick, deliberately, "if you're paid anything for bein'
polite, I should think you was overpaid considerable."

There is no knowing how long this skirmishing would have continued, if
Mr. Rockwell himself had not just then entered the counting-room. Dick
rose respectfully at his entrance, and the merchant, recognizing him at
once, advanced smiling and gave him a cordial welcome.

"I am glad to see you, my boy," he said. "So you didn't forget the
appointment. How long have you been here?"

"Half an hour, sir."

"I am here unusually early this morning. I came purposely to see you,
and introduce you to those with whom you will labor. Mr. Gilbert, this
is a young man who is going to enter our establishment. His name is
Richard Hunter. Mr. Gilbert, Richard, is our book-keeper."

Mr. Gilbert nodded slightly, not a little surprised at his employer's
cordiality to the new boy.

"So the fellow was right, after all," he thought. "But it can't be
possible he is to receive ten dollars a week."

"Come out into the ware-room, and I will show you about," continued Mr.
Rockwell. "How do you think you shall like business, Richard?"

Dick was on the point of saying "Bully," but checked himself just in
time, and said instead, "Very much indeed, sir."

"I hope you will. If you do well you may depend upon promotion. I shall
not forget under what a heavy obligation I am to you, my brave boy."

What would the book-keeper have said, if he had heard this?

"How is the little boy, sir?" asked Dick.

"Very well, indeed. He does not appear even to have taken cold, as might
have been expected from his exposure, and remaining in wet clothes for
some time."

"I am glad to hear that he is well, sir."

"You must come up and see him for yourself, Richard," said Mr. Rockwell,
in a friendly manner. "I have no doubt you will become good friends very
soon. Besides, my wife is anx