MR. GRAYLOCK RECEIVES A SURPRISE
While they were eating supper that evening and Dick had told his mother
all that had happened during the day, not forgetting the contemptible
words of the close-fisted grocer, he noticed that she looked even a
shade sadder than usual.
"What has happened to make you feel badly, mother?" he asked, catching
her eyes at last.
"I did not mean to tell you until after supper, my boy, but since you
have been so observing I suppose I must do it now," she replied, turning
a bit red.
"Then I was right, and something has upset you. Have you had a letter?"
She nodded her head in the affirmative.
"From the lawyer you engaged to look up that company?"
"Yes, from Mr. Brief. He writes that so far as he can see just at
present there is no prospect for the company resuming the paying of
dividends. He says that it is a dull time in the manufacturing business,
and it may be months, perhaps a year or so before things come around
again," she replied, trying hard to keep the tears back.
"Still, there is no fear of the company going to smash, is there, so
that you would lose all you have invested there?" persisted Dick.
"Mr. Brief says he does not really fear that. He also writes that we
might be able to sell our stock, but since it would have to be
sacrificed just now most shamefully he advised that we hold on as long
as we can. If it comes to a point of desperation I am to let him know,
and he will do the best he can for me."
"Well, I wouldn't let that worry me, mother. I consider it so much
better news than I expected that I feel like shouting. We will hold out!
I'm going to help you right along now. And some fine day we'll wake up
to hear that the old company has blossomed out again bigger than ever,
and that our stock is worth just twice what it was before. I've read
about these games they play to freeze people out. If I'm going to take
father's place you must let me see that letter. I want to be posted on
all that is going on."
After that sort of talk Mrs. Morrison could no longer feel that new
trouble had descended upon them; so bringing out the lawyer's letter she
and her boy talked it all over, and between the lines she now discovered
many a ray of hope that had not appeared there when she sat, alone and
dispirited, reading it for the first time.
It was really impossible to give way to despondency while Dick Morrison
was in close touch with one; he had such a sunny nature and always chose
to look on the bright side of things that somehow he seemed to transfer
some of his optimism to those with whom he came in contact.
And so the little woman, when she retired, felt that the spirit of his
father had indeed descended to the son, and that she need not have any
fear with regard to Dick making his way in the world.
As he had promised himself, Dick applied to Mr. Graylock in the morning
for a position.
The big store was not very busy at that time, most of their trade coming
in the afternoon and evening, so that he found the proprietor in his
office engaged in dictating letters to a girl stenographer.
When he had finished he beckoned to Dick to come into his cubby-hole den
where an opening afforded him a chance to keep his eye on all that was
going on in the store, from bookkeepers to the clerks behind the various
counters.
Mr. Archibald Graylock was a very stern and harsh man, with an eye that
seemed to penetrate to the very soul of the party with whom he held
converse.
Those in his employ led a dog's life of it, for he would brook no
trifling, and from the time they entered the door until they left not
one minute could they call their own; no one might tell just when that
cold, calculating green eye was fixed upon them; so there never was the
least sign of skylarking or even friendly communion in that big
establishment while the proprietor was present, and that meant pretty
much the live-long day, and every day in the week.
Dick had never liked him; no one else did for that matter, though many
people toadied to Mr. Graylock simply because he was reputed to be one
of the richest merchants in Riverview.
And since he had heard how this man had, like a big bully, frightened
his poor little mother with his ugly threats, Dick disliked him more
than ever; but since he had come here seeking employment he knew that it
would be foolish for him to give any indication of such a feeling.
"Sit down there, boy," said the big man, indicating with a lordly
gesture a chair so placed that while he talked he could also keep an eye
on the store by means of that special opening.
When he spoke in a bragging or a bullying tone Archibald Graylock was
accustomed to elevating his voice so that the men at the bookkeepers'
desk could easily hear all he said; perhaps he could not help being loud
in his ways, but there were those who said he did it simply to make an
impression on his employees, and show the groveling worms what a great
man they served.
Dick sat down, holding his hat between his hands, and not feeling at all
confident that he would have even a chance to accept any offer at the
hands of this nabob of Riverview, for he fancied that Mr. Graylock, by
his frown, meant to simply make use of the opportunity to read him a
lecture, haul him over the coals, and then perhaps publicly insult him.
"My son tells me you are in want of employment, and also that he
magnanimously chose to overlook the many times you have gone out of your
way to do spiteful things to him, to tell you to come and see me. Is
this so, boy?" exclaimed the magnate, tapping his pencil savagely on his
desk as though he were pounding in a moral lesson that it would well pay
Dick to heed.
"He told me to see you, yes, sir; and I am looking for some employment
so that I can assist my mother meet expenses. You know the
circumstances, perhaps, Mr. Graylock, and how nearly all we have is tied
up in a big manufacturing company that has closed its plant for a
season, so that our dividends are cut off. That makes it hard for
mother, and I am determined to get a job somewhere that will go part way
toward paying our bills."
Dick spoke as respectfully as he possibly could, although there was not
the least sign of encouragement in the manner of the other.
"Yes, I happen to know more about that circumstance than most people,
for I did my best to induce Morrison to go in with me and found this
lucrative business. If he had done so he might to-day have been a
wealthy man; or at least his widow would be beyond all want. But every
one isn't gifted with the same amount of business acumen. A few will
always find their way to the top. Now, I consider that you are showing a
spirit of humility in coming to me to beg a position in my employ.
Probably you regret that you have in the past been such a rowdy, and
will endeavor to change your ways once you come under my jurisdiction.
We have a reputation to sustain in this establishment, young man. You
would have to try and be a gentleman here. Take a lesson from my son,
who so nobly forgave your boorish actions, and hearing that you and your
mother were in want kindly interceded with me to forget the past. I
cannot disappoint such a charitable spirit, and I am about to take you
into my employ at the advice of Ferdinand. Can you start to work at
once, Richard?"
The boy had turned red and then white as he heard these phrases uttered
in the loud voice of the magnate. Of course those men at the long desk
caught every word, and perhaps half the clerks in the store as well,
though no one dared so much as raise their eyes to glance that way.
Indignant at his treatment Dick arose from his seat.
"What wages do you pay, Mr. Graylock?" he asked, though positive that he
could never under any circumstances work for this pompous and cruel
man.
"We have been giving two and a half a week, but since you are older than
the last boy we had I shall make your wages three. You will ask for Mr.
Jones, and he can put you to work?" replied the other, with a wave of
the hand meant to indicate that the interview was ended, and that he
could spare no more of his valuable time on so trivial a subject.
"I guess I won't take the job, Mr. Graylock. I have been getting seven
and a half working for Mr. Cartwright, the miller. If I meet any boy who
will fill your bill I'll send him in to see you. Good day, sir," and so
saying Dick walked out of the office, leaving the big man staring after
him as though he had received a severe shock.
As he passed by the row of busy bookkeepers Dick caught a chuckle from
one, while another, under cover of his big open ledger thrust out his
hand and seizing on the sleeve of Dick's coat gave it several little
nudges as if trying to indicate how thoroughly they enjoyed his
independent way of taking the supercilious nabob down a peg, for no one
in his employ dared to call his soul his own; if he had, he would never
have remained there a single day.
Dick had not intended to be impudent, even though the arrogant manner in
which Mr. Graylock had patronized him, and compared him to his
disadvantage with his paragon of a son, had cut him to the quick.
He felt certain he would have been even more unhappy in that
establishment than if he had taken service with Ezra Squires.
Still Dick would not allow himself to feel cast down; these two men did
not constitute the whole business section of Riverview, and somehow he
believed that in good time he would surely come upon a congenial place
where he might receive living wages for his best work, and not feel that
he was in the employ of a tyrant.