Part 23 (2/2)
”I guess that don't pay much,” sniffed Uriah.
”It pays better than nothing,” laughed Ralph.
”You might better have come here to work for me.”
”That is a matter of opinion, Mr. d.i.c.ks.”
”No, it hain't; it's the truth,” grumbled the storekeeper. ”How long is that makes.h.i.+ft job goin' to last?”
”A week.”
”Exactly! an' then you'll be out again.”
”Perhaps something else will turn up in the meantime.”
”'Tain't likely. A job in the store would be more respectable than carting around sech trash, which everybody sticks in the fire soon as they get 'em.”
The truth was that Uriah was hard pressed for help, his son having gone away on a business trip to Chambersburgh and New York. He had tried to get a boy in vain, all of those in the village knowing his mean ways too well to undertake to work for him.
”This is honest work, and that's enough for me,” said Ralph. ”I am not ashamed of it.”
”Well, suit yourself. Only I won't hold my offer to you open long,” warned Uriah.
”Don't hold it open at all, if you can get any one else,” said Ralph, and, fearing he was wasting his employer's time, he hurried off to the next place.
”Seems he don't care for a steady place, nohow!” growled Uriah, sourly.
”Some boys don't know what's good for them!”
Ralph visited all of the stores, and even left a number of the circulars in the post office, tying them up on a string where the people coming in for letters might tear one off. Mr. Dunham had told him to do this and had given him a special package for that purpose.
While he was at work the clerk in the office, Henry Bott, came out to see what he was doing.
A little talk ensued regarding the circulars. It appeared that Mr. Hooker did not approve of circulars about the place.
”But you leave them there,” said Henry Bott, ”and I won't take them down unless he especially orders it.”
Ralph was about to leave the post office when he brushed against a man who had just come in. The man was Dock Brady.
The boy was about to say something about meeting once more, but Brady gave him no chance. As soon as he saw he was recognized he turned on his heel and walked away again.
”He acts mighty queer,” thought the boy. ”What can make him wish to avoid me?”
Ralph wondered if he would meet Percy on the hill among the fas.h.i.+onable houses. But he saw nothing of the aristocratic bully, although he even left a circular on the Pagets' front piazza.
By noon the boy had gone through the entire town. Then, after taking lunch, he started on foot for Hopeville, a mile away.
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