Part 15 (1/2)
”I guess I shall; that's right,” agreed Paul. ”How am I going to get together the rest of that money! You haven't any suggestions, have you, sir?”
”Not unless you want to do Thompson's work while he takes his trip West.
He is going out to Indiana to see his mother and will be away a month or so; in the meantime I have got to hire another man to do the ch.o.r.es about the place. The lawn must be cut; the leaves raked up; the driveway kept trim and in order; and the hedge clipped. If you want to take the job I will pay you for it.”
”I'd have to do the work Sat.u.r.days, I suppose.”
”That wouldn't hurt you, would it?”
Paul thought a moment.
”N--o.”
”Undoubtedly it would interfere with your school games, the football and baseball,” said his father. ”Maybe a typewriter isn't worth that amount of sacrifice.”
”Yes, it is.”
”Think you want to make a try at Thompson's job?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Then I won't hire in another man; only remember I shall expect you to stick to the bargain. I can't have you throwing up the place in a week or two.”
”I shan't do that.”
”And I can't have my work done haphazard, either,” continued Mr.
Cameron. ”It must be done well and regularly.”
”Yes, sir.”
”You want me to give you a trial?”
”Yes, Dad.”
”Do you want to do the whole job--the bra.s.ses indoors too?”
”Yes, I may as well take on the whole thing since I am out for money,”
laughed Paul.
”That's right. You have the proper spirit--the spirit that buys typewriters,” answered his father. ”I don't believe the exercise will hurt you, and at the end of it you will have something more to show than a dislocated shoulder, maybe, or a cracked cranium.”
”Do you think I can earn what money I shall need to make up the rest of my fifty dollars?” inquired Paul anxiously. ”Can I do it in a month?”
”A month of work will give you the rest of your fifty, son; have no fears. It will give you, too, all the work you will want for one while,” answered Mr. Cameron. ”Unless I am greatly mistaken, you will be quite ready to resign your post to Thompson when he comes back.”
”Perhaps I shall,” Paul replied, ”but if you are repenting your bargain and are trying to scare me off, Dad, it is too late. You have hired me and I mean to stick it out.”
”Go ahead, youngster, and good luck to you!” chuckled his father.