Part 8 (1/2)
”Bless my soul! It is after two o'clock! We will have luncheon served here.”
”It is a peculiar situation,” mused the invalid. ”The last thing I remember is being in the thick of a railroad wreck, and here I wake up in bed, with a trained nurse in the room, to find myself the guest of a man whose name I do not even know.”
”Appleton--H. D. Appleton, of Minneapolis. I am a lumberman--just returning from the National Lumberman's Convention in Buffalo. And yours?”
He was interrupted by a tap at the door and a couple of waiters entered bearing trays.
CHAPTER IX
BILL GETS A JOB
After luncheon, over cigars, the conversation again became personal.
Appleton regarded the younger man thoughtfully.
”You spoke of being temporarily out of funds. Allow me to loan you what you require.”
”Thank you, sir, but I could not think of it. I am already deeply indebted to you. If it were only a temporary embarra.s.sment I wouldn't mind. But I have no definite plans. I must find work, and I freely confess I don't know exactly how to go about it. It might be a long time before I could repay the loan. Then, too, if a man is broke he will tackle the first job that comes along, whereas if he had money in his pocket he would be tempted to wait for something better, no matter what was offered.”
”If you work it right you can easily get a couple of thousand out of the railroad company--damages, you know.”
The younger man looked up quickly. ”Not me,” he smiled. ”I have not sustained any loss to speak of. That crack on the head when the coach tipped over didn't even knock me out. And as for the pummeling I got afterward with the knucks--that was my own lookout--the railroad company is not to blame for that. No. Getting something for nothing is not playing the game--it savors too strongly of the methods of our friend the pickpocket.”
As he talked the elder man subjected him to a careful scrutiny. He noted the deep-set, unwavering eyes, the smiling lips, and the firm, square set of the jaw.
”So you are really in earnest about going to work?”
”In earnest! Mr. Appleton, you have just witnessed a fair demonstration of the demands of my appet.i.te,” with a nod toward the array of empty dishes. ”I am subject to those attacks on an average of three times a day. In my pocket are just four one-dollar bills. Can you guess the answer?”
The lumberman smiled.
”What kind of position were you thinking of? What is your business?”
”Haven't any. And I am not thinking of a position--what I want is a _job_.”
”Know anything about lumber?”
”No.”
The two smoked in silence while the waiters removed the remains of the luncheon. When the door closed behind them the lumberman spoke. He dropped the conversational tone and his words cut crisp and to the point:
”Young man, I can use you. If you are foot-loose and are willing to work, I will give you your chance. I am going to put it up to you straight and let you decide for yourself.
”I can use you in my office at a very fair salary. In two or three years you will, in all probability, become a valuable clerk--later, a lumber salesman at a good salary and better commissions.
”Your duties will not be strenuous, and as you enlarge your acquaintance you will naturally a.s.sume the social position to which you are ent.i.tled.
”Or I can use you in the woods. Send you into a logging camp to learn the business where it starts. Up there the work is not easy. Instead of a salary you will receive wages--and you will earn them--every cent of them. There are no snap jobs in a logging camp. Everybody, from the boss down, works--and works hard. Instead of roast lamb and green peas you will eat salt pork and baked beans.