AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.
Thorpe Walling had never been one of Cabot Grant's particular friends,
nor did the latter now regard with unmixed pleasure the idea of a
year's intimate association with him. He had accepted the latter's
invitation because nothing else seemed likely to offer, and he could
not bear to have the other fellows, especially those whose class
standing had secured them positions, imagine that he was not also in
demand. Besides, the thought of a trip around the world was certainly
very enticing; any opposition to the plan would have rendered him the
more desirous of carrying it out. But in his interview with his
guardian he had gained his point so easily that the concession
immediately lost half its value. Even as he wrote his note to Thorpe
he wondered if he really wanted to go with him, and after that
conversation in the club reading-room he was almost certain that he did
not. If Mr. Hepburn had only offered him employment, how gladly he
would have accepted it and declined Thorpe's invitation; but his
guardian had merely asked him to recommend some one else.
"Which shows," thought Cabot bitterly, "what he thinks of me, and of my
fitness for any position of importance. He is right, too, for if ever
a fellow threw away opportunities, I have done so during the past four
years. And now I am deliberately going to spend another, squandering
my last dollar, in company with a chap who will have no further use for
me when it is gone. It really begins to look as though I were about
the biggest fool of my acquaintance."
It was in this frame of mind that our young engineer made a second
visit to his guardian's office on the following morning. There he was
received by Mr. Hepburn with the same business-like abruptness that had
marked their interview of the day before.
"Good-morning, Cabot," he said. "I see you are promptly on hand, and,
I suppose, anxious to be off. Well, I don't blame you, for a pleasure
trip around the world isn't offered to every young fellow, and I wish I
were in a position to take such a one myself. I have had prepared a
letter of credit for the balance of your property remaining in our
hands, and while it probably is not as large a sum as your friend
Walling will carry, it is enough to see you through very comfortably,
if you exercise a reasonable economy. I have also written letters of
introduction to our agents in several foreign cities that may prove
useful. Let me hear from you occasionally, and I trust you will have
fully as good a time as you anticipate."
"Thank you, sir," said Cabot. "You are very kind."
"Not at all. I am only striving to carry out your father's
instructions, and do what he paid to have done. Now, how about the
young man you were to recommend? Have you thought of one?"
"No, sir, I haven't. You see, all the fellows who graduated with
honours found places waiting for them, and as I knew you would only
want one of the best, I can't think of one whom I can recommend for
your purpose. I am very sorry, but----"
"I fear I did not make our requirements quite clear," interrupted Mr.
Hepburn, "since I did not mean to convey the impression that we would
employ none but an honour man. It often happens that he who ranks
highest as a student fails of success in the business world; and under
certain conditions I would employ the man who graduated lowest in his
class rather than him who stood at its head."
Cabot's face expressed his amazement at this statement, and noting it,
Mr. Hepburn smiled as he continued:
"The mere fact that a young man has graduated from your Institute, even
though it be with low rank, insures his possession of technical
knowledge sufficient for our purpose. If, at the same time, he is a
gentleman endowed with the faculty of making friends, as well as an
athlete willing to meet and able to overcome physical difficulties, I
would employ him in preference to a more studious person who lacked any
of these qualifications. If you, for instance, had not already decided
upon a plan for spending the ensuing year, I should not hesitate to
offer you the position we desire to fill."
Cabot trembled with excitement. "I--Mr. Hepburn!" he exclaimed.
"Would you really have offered it to me?"
"Certainly I would. I desired you to meet me here for that very
purpose; but when I found you had made other arrangements that might
prove equally advantageous, I believed I was meeting your father's
wishes by helping you carry them out."
"Is the place still open, and can I have it?" asked Cabot eagerly.
"Not if you are going around the world; for, although the duties of the
position will include a certain amount of travel, it will not be in
that direction."
"But I don't want to go around the world, and would rather take the
position you have to offer than do anything else I know of," declared
Cabot.
"Without knowing its requirements, what hardships it may present, nor
in what direction it may lead you?" inquired the other.
"Yes, sir. So long as you offer it I would accept it without question,
even though it should be a commission to discover the North Pole."
"My dear boy," said Mr. Hepburn, in an entirely different tone from
that he had hitherto used, "I trust I may never forfeit nor abuse the
confidence implied by these words. Although you did not know it, I
have carefully watched every step of your career during the past five
years, and while you have done some things, as well as developed some
traits, that are to be regretted, I am satisfied that you are at least
worthy of a trial in the position we desire to fill. So, if you are
willing to relinquish your proposed trip around the world, and enter
the employ of this company instead, you may consider yourself engaged
for the term of one year from this date. During that time all your
legitimate expenses will be met, but no salary will be paid you until
the expiration of the year, when its amount will be determined by the
value of the services you have rendered. Is that satisfactory?"
"It is, sir," replied Cabot, "and with your permission I will at once
telegraph Thorpe Walling that I cannot go with him."
"Write your despatch here and I will have it sent out. At the same
time, do not mention that you have entered the employ of this company,
as there are reasons why, for the present at least, that should remain
a secret."
When Cabot's telegram was ready, Mr. Hepburn, who had been glancing
through a number of letters that awaited his signature, handed it to
his secretary, to whom he also gave some instructions that Cabot did
not catch. As the former left the room, the president turned to our
young engineer and said:
"As perhaps you are aware, Cabot, there is at present an unprecedented
demand all over the world for both iron and copper, and our company is
largely interested in the production of these metals. As existing
sources of supply are inadequate it is of importance that new ones
should be discovered, and if they can be found on the Atlantic
seaboard, so much the better. In looking about for new fields that may
be profitably worked, our attention has been directed to the island of
Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador. While the former has been
partially explored, we desire more definite information as to its
available ore beds. There is a small island in Conception Bay, not far
from St. Johns, known as Bell Island, said to be a mass of iron ore,
that is already being worked by a local company. From it I should like
to have a report, as soon as you reach St. Johns, concerning the nature
of the ore, the extent of the deposit, the cost of mining it, the
present output, the facilities for shipment, and so forth. At the same
time I want you to obtain this information without divulging the nature
of your business, or allowing your name to become in any way connected
with this company.
"Having finished with Bell Island, you will visit such other portions
of Newfoundland as are readily accessible from the coast, and seem to
promise good results, always keeping to yourself the true nature of
your business. Finally, you will proceed to Labrador, where you will
make such explorations as are possible. You will report any
discoveries in person, when you return to New York, as I do not care to
have them entrusted to the mails. Above all, do not fail to bring back
specimens of whatever you may find in the way of minerals. Are these
instructions sufficiently clear?"
"They seem so, sir."
"Very well, then. I wish you to start this very day, as I find that a
steamer, on which your passage is already engaged, sails from a
Brooklyn pier for St. Johns this afternoon. This letter of credit,
which only awaits your signature before a notary, will, if deposited
with the bank of Nova Scotia in St. Johns, more than defray your year's
expenses, and whatever you can save from it will be added to your
salary. Therefore, it will pay you to practise economy, though you
must not hesitate to incur legitimate expenses or to spend money when
by so doing you can further the objects of your journey. You have
enough money for your immediate needs, have you not?"
"Yes, sir. I have about fifty dollars."
"That will be ample, since your ticket to St. Johns is already paid
for. Here it is."
Thus saying, Mr. Hepburn handed over an envelope containing the
steamship ticket that his secretary had been sent out to obtain.
"I would take as little baggage as possible," he continued, "for you
can purchase everything necessary in St. Johns, and will discover what
you need after you get there. Now, good-bye, my boy. God bless you
and bring you back in safety. Remember that the coming year will
probably prove the most important of your life, and that your future
now depends entirely upon yourself. Mr. Black here will go with you to
the banker's, where you can sign your letter of credit."
So our young engineer was launched on the sea of business life. Two
hours later he had packed a dress-suit case and sent his trunk down to
the company's building for storage. On his way to the steamer he
stopped at his club for a bite of lunch, and as he was leaving the
building he encountered the friend with whom he had discussed his plans
the day before.
"Hello!" exclaimed that individual, "where are you going in such a
hurry. Not starting off on your year of travel, are you?"
"Yes," laughed Cabot. "I am to sail within an hour. Good-bye!"
With this he ran down the steps and jumped into a waiting cab.