Part 35 (2/2)
”I suppose not. I am glad you know just why I was refused.”
”Well, I hope you are satisfied.”
”I am entirely so.”
”I wonder what the fellow means,” thought Sam.
Chapter XXIII
The Decoy Letter
Sam knew that Ben was anxious to obtain a situation. It occurred to him that it would be a splendid joke to write to Ben, in the name of some Boston firm, offering him a situation. Ben would go up to the city, of course, only to find that he had been ”sold.”
Of course, it would not do for Sam to write the letter himself, since his writing was well known to Ben. Again, the letter must be posted in Boston. However, where there is a will there is a way. Sam was acquainted with a boy who lived in Boston--Frank Ferguson--and to him he wrote, enclosing the draft of a letter, which he requested Frank to copy and mail to Ben. ”It is only a practical joke,” Sam explained in his letter, ”in return for one Ben has played on me.” But for this explanation, Frank who was an honorable boy, would not have lent himself to this scheme. As it was, it struck him only as a piece of fun, and he followed Sam's instructions.
A few days later, Ben, in going to the post-office, received a letter directed to himself. It read thus:
”BENJAMIN BRADFORD: We are in want of a boy in our store.
You can have the place if you wish. It will be necessary for you to report for duty next Monday.
”Yours, in haste, ”JONES & PORTER”
Ben had heard of Jones & Porter. They were well-known booksellers and publishers. A position with them was certainly desirable.
”But how could they have heard of me,” thought Ben.
He was not vain enough to suppose that his name was well known in Boston, yet here was an important firm that had offered him employment. Again, the manner in which the letter ended struck him as rather singular. It didn't occur to Ben to doubt its genuineness.
As he was walking back, he met James Watson.
”What's the news, Ben?” asked James.
”I am offered a place in Boston,” answered Ben.
”You don't say so! What sort of place is it?”
”It is a place in a bookstore. There is the letter.”
James read it.
”How did they happen to write to you.”
”I don't know, I am sure.”
”Can't you think of any way in which they could have heard of you?”
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