enton's."

"A good feeling, my boy. The more you know the better chance you stand
to get on in the world. I am giving you a low place in my employment.
If you want to be promoted, you must qualify yourself for it."

"I'll do it, sir," said our hero, manfully. "That's good advice, and
I'll foller it."

"Success to you, my boy. You can now go, and come back Monday morning."

"Thank you, sir."

Tom left the counting-room in excellent spirits. He had found a place,
and one just such as he liked. Five dollars a week, he foresaw, would
not pay his expenses, but he was sure he could earn more in some way.
As he was about to leave the store, Maurice, whose curiosity was
aroused, came to meet him.

"Did you get through your important business?" he said, sneeringly.

"Not quite. I'm coming here again next Monday."

"Mr. Ferguson must be glad to see you."

"I'm comin' Tuesday, also."

"What, every day?"

"Yes; your boss has concluded to take me into the business."

"You ain't coming here to work?" said Maurice, hastily.

"You've hit the nail on the head."

"We've got enough clerks now."

"I'm comin' to help you sweep out in the mornin'."

Maurice was by no means pleased to hear this. Regarding Tom as his
social inferior, he did not like to be placed on a level with him.

"How much pay are you to get?" he asked.

"Five dollars a week."

"The same as I get?"

"Yes."

Maurice was disgusted.

"Then I shall ask for higher pay."

"Go ahead. I don't care."

"Do you expect to live on your salary?"

"No, of course not. I've got private property."

"How much?"

"Go and ask the man that calls for the taxes."

"I don't believe it."

"Why, I'm payin' ten dollars a week for my board."

Finally our hero went out, leaving Maurice dissatisfied and
annoyed--first that his rival, as he regarded him, had obtained a place
in the same establishment with himself, and next that the new-comer was
to receive the same salary. He sent in an application, the next day,
for increase of pay, but it was dismissed, with the curt response that
when he earned more he would get it.

Meanwhile Tom bent his steps toward the Ohio river. Of course, my
readers know that Cincinnati is on the north bank of the Ohio, and that
just across is a town in Kentucky.

"I'd like to see Kentucky," said Tom to himself. "I guess I'll go
across."

Small river steamers convey passengers across the river for a very
small sum. Our hero paid the