Part 42 (1/2)
”How do you like working here?”
”Very much,” answered Ben. ”Much better than in the mill,” he added significantly.
”I shouldn't think they'd have taken a green country boy,” suggested Sam pleasantly.
”Perhaps they wouldn't if a friend hadn't written for me,” said Ben with a meaning glance at Sam.
”How much pay do you get?”
”I would rather not say.”
”Because it is so small,” said Sam, with a sneer.
”On the contrary, I look upon it as liberal. I am doing better than if I had remained at Milltown.”
This was bad news for Sam.
”I am really obliged to the person who wrote the letter which secured me the position,” Ben added.
”It isn't much of a business to dust books.”
”I sell books sometimes,” said Ben, smiling. ”Can I show you something this morning.”
”No, I don't want anything. Where do you live?”
”I board on Warren Avenue.”
”In a cheap boarding-house?”
”There are some very nice people who board there.”
Sam came to a sudden decision. Would it be possible to induce Ben to give up his place, and enter the mill again? He could be discharged after awhile, and cast adrift. It was rather foolish to suppose that Ben would snap at such a bait, but he decided to try it.
”I think you would be better off in the mill,” he said.
”You could board at home, and help your aunt. You would soon be promoted, too.”
”I thought you didn't want me to enter the mill,” exclaimed Ben, amazed. ”Your father told me that my record was not good;” and Ben looked indignant.
”Father was feeling out of sorts,” said Sam smoothly.
”He will take you on if you'll come back.”
”What does the fellow mean?” thought Ben.
It didn't take him long to guess. If he should return to the mill he would be once more in Sam's power.
”You really think your father would employ me?”
”Yes, he would if I asked him to.”