"He's an honest and intelligent lad," said Mr. Greyson. "As for you,
young man, I only hope you have one-half his good qualities."

Roswell Crawford left the store in disgust, and the other
unsuccessful applicants with him.

"What luck, Fosdick?" asked Dick, eagerly, as his friend came out of
the store.

"I've got the place," said Fosdick, in accents of satisfaction; "but
it was only because Mr. Greyson spoke up for me."

"He's a trump," said Dick, enthusiastically.

The gentleman, so denominated, came out before the boys went away,
and spoke with them kindly.

Both Dick and Henry were highly pleased at the success of the
application. The pay would indeed be small, but, expended
economically, Fosdick thought he could get along on it, receiving
his room rent, as before, in return for his services as Dick's
private tutor. Dick determined, as soon as his education would
permit, to follow his companion's example.

"I don't know as you'll be willin' to room with a boot-black," he
said, to Henry, "now you're goin' into business."

"I couldn't room with a better friend, Dick," said Fosdick,
affectionately, throwing his arm round our hero. "When we part,
it'll be because you wish it."

So Fosdick entered upon a new career.

CHAPTER XX

NINE MONTHS LATER

The next morning Fosdick rose early, put on his new suit, and, after
getting breakfast, set out for the Broadway store in which he had
obtained a position. He left his little blacking-box in the room.

"It'll do to brush my own shoes," he said. "Who knows but I may have
to come back to it again?"

"No danger," said Dick; "I'll take care of the feet, and you'll have
to look after the heads, now you're in a hat-store."

"I wish you had a place too," said Fosdick.

"I don't know enough yet," said Dick. "Wait till I've gradooated."

"And can put A.B. after your name."

"What's that?"

"It stands for Bachelor of Arts. It's a degree that students get
when they graduate from college."

"Oh," said Dick, "I didn't know but it meant A Boot-black. I can put
that after my name now. Wouldn't Dick Hunter, A.B., sound tip-top?"

"I must be going," said Fosdick. "It won't do for me to be late the
very first morning."

"That's the difference between you and me," said Dick. "I'm my own
boss, and there aint no one to find fault with me if I'm late. But I
might as well be goin' too. There's a gent as comes down to his
store pretty early that generally wants