PAUL IS PROMOTED.
"You are to go to Mr. Bradford at once," said Manson, as he received
the letters Paul had brought.
There was a triumphant smile on the book-keeper's face which Paul did
not fail to observe.
"What does it mean?" he thought. "Has he been complaining of me?"
This would not have troubled him but for Manson's evident satisfaction.
It was clear, he thought, that something disagreeable was about to
happen during the interview that awaited Paul. However, he did not
propose to give his enemy the satisfaction of knowing that he had given
him anxiety. He merely said in his usual tone, "Very well, sir," and
proceeded to open the door of the inner office.
"Mr. Manson told me you wished to see me, sir," he said.
"Oh, yes," said Mr. Bradford, wheeling round in his office chair.
"Manson has been making complaints against you."
"I am not surprised at that, sir. From the first, he appears to have
disliked me. May I ask what he says?"
"He says you are not respectful to him."
"I am as respectful as I can be, but he is continually finding fault.
It is impossible to please him."
"He wants me to discharge you."
Paul's heart beat quickly. It would be a misfortune to him to leave so
good a place, especially as he was not sure whether he could regain his
place as train boy, and it would operate against him to have it known
that he had been discharged by Mr. Bradford.
"Of course, sir," he answered, soberly, "that is as you please."
"Moreover," the manufacturer proceeded, "he wants me to take his
nephew, Julius, in your place."
"I knew he wanted Julius in my place," said Paul, despondently.
"And I have about made up my mind to let him try the experiment."
The blow had fallen! Poor Paul thought it hard, but his pride sustained
him. He could not understand, however, how Mr. Bradford could so desert
him and side with his enemy, the book-keeper.
"Then, sir, I suppose I am to go," he answered.
"Well, I can hardly employ two boys in the office, since there is not
more than work enough for one."
"I am very sorry, sir," said Paul, in a subdued tone. "I have tried to
be faithful to you."
"And that is the reason why I intend to promote you," said the
manufacturer, smiling.
Promote! The word fell like music on Paul's ears. It was all right. His
friend had not deserted him after all.
"Oh, thank you, sir," he said, his face brightening.
"Come now, Paul, you didn't really think I meant to discharge you, did
you?"
"It looked like it, sir," said Paul.
"I shouldn't have made you feel so uncomfortable," said his employer.
"Now about this change. I am letting Manson have his way only to prove
to him how unfit Julius is for the post. He hasn't tried him yet. When
he does he will find him idle, lazy, and unreliable, and he will find
such fault that his nephew will probably himself resign the place in
disgust."
"I don't know," said Paul. "Ten dollars will reconcile him as it did
me."
"Oh, bless your soul! Julius isn't to have ten dollars. He is to have
four, like all his predecessors except yourself."
On the whole Paul was rather glad of that. It made Mr. Manson's
momentary triumph less important.
"Now about your own affairs," said Mr. Bradford. "Are you willing to
leave Chicago and travel West?"
"I would like it above all things, sir," said Paul, his eyes sparkling.
"I thought you would. Well, I am about to give you an important
commission. Do you know where the Black Hills are situated?"
"Yes, sir; in Wyoming."
"Precisely. Well, I suppose you know that multitudes have flocked there
in search of gold."
"Yes, sir."
"I myself own half a mine there. It is known as the Blackstone. A man
named Fox, who is resident at the mine, owns the other half, and its
working is done under his direction. Now I have a shrewd suspicion
that he is cheating me, taking advantage of my absence and probable
inability to form any adequate judgment of the mine and its value."
"What makes you think so, sir?"
"His continually writing discouraging accounts of the mine, expressing
his great disappointment with it. In his last letter he winds up by
saying that he is willing to give or take two thousand dollars for it,
though it cost the two of us ten thousand."
"Doesn't he run a risk in making such an offer?"
"Yes, but he thinks I can't attend to it myself, and will sacrifice my
interest readily, just to get rid of anxiety."
"I see."
"Now I want you to go out and form a judgment as to the man's motives,
and get an idea of the real value of the mine."
"But, sir, I don't know anything about mines."
"Very true. Still you have good common sense, and can institute
inquiries without exciting suspicion. No one would suppose I would
select as my agent a boy of sixteen."
"Perhaps it is rash," said Paul.
"Nine out of ten would say so, but somehow I have more confidence in
you than in many men, and I believe you would serve me faithfully."
"You are right there, sir, at any rate."
"Now as to the compensation. Will twenty-five dollars a week and your
traveling expenses content you?"
"Twenty-five dollars!" ejaculated Paul. "Are you in earnest?"
"Quite so. Paul, I don't pay you according to your age, but according
to the nature of your work, and twenty-five dollars a week is not too
much. Now, when can you start?"
"Day after to-morrow, sir."
"That will do."
"I was thinking how I could arrange about my mother, Mr. Bradford. She
will need money while I am gone."
"She can call every Saturday at the office and collect what you thinks
she needs. Shall it be ten dollars a week? If so, it can be deducted
from your week's wages."
"That will be very satisfactory, sir."
"Very well. Go home, make preparations for setting out, and come to me
to-morrow for instructions. Don't tell anybody except your mother where
you are going."
"All right sir."
As Paul entered the presence of the book-keeper, the latter glanced
at him eagerly to see his downcast looks. He was perplexed to see
that Paul seemed in excellent spirits, and feared Mr. Bradford had
reconsidered his decision. But Paul reassured him.
"Mr. Manson," he said, "I am about to leave you."
"So Mr. Bradford has found you out, and discharged you," sneered Manson.
"At any rate," answered Paul, "I shall no longer be office-boy. Julius
is to take my place."
"If you had been more respectful to me you might have staid," said
Manson.
"Mr. Bradford didn't say anything about that," said Paul, smiling.
"Well, good-day."
"There's something about this I don't understand," thought the
perplexed book-keeper. "I thought he would make a fuss. Well, at any
rate, I've carried my point. He's bounced, and Julius is in his place."