ain't got nothing to do this morning."
"There are a great number of things to do, Ferris, but evidently you are not the boy who cares to do them. I warned you only a week ago that you must mend your ways. I think hereafter we will dispense with your service. Mr. Hardwick, please pay him his wages in full for the week. We will get some one else to fill his position."
Mr. Sumner turned to the rear office.
"I don't care," muttered Ferris. "Hand over the stuff," he said to Hardwick.
Having received his money, he calmly lit a cigarette, puffed away upon it for a minute, and then went out slamming the door as hard as possible after him.
Hal was already at work, clearing away the snow at a lively rate. Ferris approached him.
"Say, are you the fellow that did me out of my job?" he asked, savagely.
"I haven't done any one out of a job," returned Hal. "Do you work here?"
"I did, but I don't any more."
"Why not?"
"Because old Sumner expects the earth from me and he can't get it; see?" Ferris winked one eye. "I'm too smart to allow myself to be stepped onto, I am. You had better quit working; he won't pay you much for your trouble."
"I'll risk it," replied Hal.
"If I find you played me foul, I'll break you all up," went on Ferris. And with this threat he hurried off.
Hal looked after the boy for an instant and then continued his work. The sidewalk was soon cleaned, and he returned to the office.
Hardwick let him in behind the railing, giving him a sharp look as he passed.
"I've seen him somewhere before," he muttered to himself, as he continued at his books. "But where I can't remember."
"What! done already?" exclaimed Mr. Sumner to Hal.
"Yes, sir."
"It didn't take long."
"It wasn't much of a job, sir."
"Ferris would have taken all of the morning."
"Was that the boy who just left?"
"Yes."
"He said he would whip me if I played him foul."
"Humph! He is a bad boy. You must be careful, and not get into any trouble."
"I will, sir. But I am not afraid of him."
"No; you look as if you could take care of yourself." Mr. Sumner rubbed his chin. "So you say you have no prospects ahead?"
"No, sir, but I am not afraid – "
"Let me see your handwriting."
The broker shoved a pad toward Hal, and handed him a pen filled with ink.
Hal put down a sentence or two, and added his own name.
"That will do very well. You say you can figure fairly?"
"I have been through the common school arithmetic."
"What would my commission be on six thousand dollars' worth of bonds, sold at one hundred and fifteen, commission one-quarter of one per cent?"
Hal figured for a moment.
"Seventeen dollars and twenty-five cents," he said.
Mr. Sumner gave him several other sums. The youth answered all of them quickly and correctly.
"That will do first-class," said the broker. "Now to come to business. Would you mind telling me why you left Fairham?"
"Not at all, Mr. Sumner," replied Hal.
And, sitting down, he told how the trustees had intended to use him, and of his determination to do for himself.
"And I will not go back, no matter what happens," he concluded, decidedly.
"Well, I cannot say as I blame you," was the slow reply. "Of course, you owe them something, but perhaps you can pay them back quicker in the way you have undertaken. Have you any idea in regard to salary?"
"I intended to take what I could get, and then look around for something better."
"How would you like to work for me?"
"First-rate, sir."
"I need an office boy to take Ferris' place, and also somebody to help copy contracts and make out bills and statements. If you could combine the two I would give you seven dollars a week at the start, and increase the amount as you become more valuable."
Hal's heart beat fast. Seven dollars a week! It was more than twice what he could have earned at Lawyer Gibson's office in Fairham.
"Oh, thank you!" he cried. "I did not expect so much."
"I expect you to earn the money," replied the broker. He made this remark, but, nevertheless, he had not forgotten that Hal had saved his life. "Have you any money with you?"
"Fifty cents, sir."
"Then let me advance you a month's salary. Half of it I would advise you to invest in an overcoat and a stout pair of shoes. The remainder you will probably have to pay out for your board. Mr. Hardwick."
The book-keeper came forward.
"Just give Carson twenty-eight dollars for four weeks' salary in advance. He will take Ferris' place, and also help you on the copying."
"Yes, sir."
Hardwick gave Hal a contemptuous look, and then going to a large safe in the forward part of the main office, brought out the cash and handed it over.
"You may go to work at once," said Mr. Sumner. "I would advise you to hunt up a boarding-house after business hours, three o'clock."
"Yes, sir."
And so Hal was installed at Sumner, Allen & Co.'s place of business. He cleaned up the place, and then started in on the copying Hardwick brought him.
Mr. Sumner was well pleased with the boy's work for the day, and so expressed himself.
After business hours Hal bought the overcoat and the pair of shoes. Then he started out for a boarding-house, and at last found one on Tenth Street, kept by Mrs. Amanda Ricket, where he obtained a room on the top floor, with breakfast and supper, for five dollars a week.
On the second day at the office Hal was astonished to learn that the Mr. Allen of the firm was the man he had seen in company with Mr. Hardwick on the Pennsylvania ferry-boat. Mr. Allen did not recognize him, and the youth thought it just as well not to mention the meeting. During the afternoon Mr. Sumner and Mr. Allen went out together. They were hardly gone when Hardwick put on his hat and coat and followed, leaving the youth in sole charge.
Five minutes later a stranger entered and asked for Mr. Allen. Finding the broker out, he said he would wait, and sat down inside the railing, near the stove.
He had hardly seated himself, when a snow-ball crashed against the plate-glass window. Fearful that the glass might be broken, Hal hurried out. Two boys had been snow-balling each other, and both ran away as fast as they could.
Hardly had Hal returned to the office than Hardwick came in. He had been paying a visit to a near-by wine-room, and his face was slightly flushed. He nodded to the man who was waiting.
"Anything I can do for you?" he asked.
"I want to see Mr. Allen."
"Gone away for the day, sir."
The stranger at once arose and left. Hardwick saw him to the door, and then sat down near a desk in the rear.
Hal bent over the writing he was doing. He proceeded with great care, as it was new work to him and he did not wish to make any errors.
Just before three o'clock Mr. Sumner returned. He walked to the rear office, gave a turn to the knob of the door of his private safe, and then addressed Hardwick:
"Anything new?"
"No, sir."
"Then we might as well close up."
Five minutes later