Part 20 (2/2)
”Then you ain't got a duplicate?”
”No, I tell you.”
”Oh, all right,” responded Dan Pickley, and he pursed his lips. He was about to say more, but suddenly changed his mind.
Somewhat perplexed by Pickley's strange manner, the boy continued on his way, and a few minutes later found himself in the thriving town for which he had been bound.
Ralph had no definite place in view. But he knew that the best thing to do was to seek employment systematically. He resolved to walk to the extreme end of the town and apply at every store and factory that presented itself.
”Then, if there is any vacancy at all, I am bound to locate it,” he said to himself.
His first visit was paid to a large shoe factory, located directly by the lakeside.
”I am looking for a place,” he began to the foreman, when that individual waved him away and pointed to a sign over the door, which the boy had not seen, and which read:
”_No More Hands Wanted._”
”Excuse me, but I did not see the sign,” said Ralph, politely, and walked off.
After this came another shoe factory, at which the boy fared no better; indeed, he fared worse, for the foreman, a burly Irishman, ordered him out very rudely.
”They don't believe in being very civil,” thought Ralph. ”However, one must expect some hard knocks in this world.”
At a planing-mill the boy fell in with a young man whom he knew quite well.
The young man's name was Harry Ford, and he treated Ralph kindly.
”Very sorry, Ralph, but there is no opening,” he said. ”Only last week we discharged two young fellows because we could not keep them going. Orders are rather slack.”
”Then there is nothing at all open?”
Harry Ford shook his head.
”I'll ask the boss if he'll take you on, but I am certain it will do no good.”
The owner of the mill came in just then, and he was appealed to. He at once said he could not possibly take on a new hand.
”If an opening occurs I'll keep you in mind,” said Harry Ford, and with this promise Ralph had to be content.
After leaving the planing-mill, the boy came to several stores. At the first and second no help of any kind was needed. At the third they wanted a boy to distribute circulars.
”The job will last for a week,” said the storekeeper, ”for I want the circulars distributed in every place in Eastport, Westville, and all the summer boarding-houses and hotels in the neighborhood.”
”And how much are you willing to pay?” asked Ralph.
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