Part 4 (1/2)
”Well, I was a good scholar in school; here is a recommendation from my teacher.”
Richard Goldwin read the letter, which purported to be signed by the princ.i.p.al of a well known school.
”This speaks well of you,” said the banker.
Felix looked pleased, and cast a triumphant glance at Herbert, who sat at a little distance off, anxiously awaiting his turn to be examined. He was afraid the banker might settle upon young Mortimer without even investigating his own fitness for the position.
”For what firm did you work?” asked Richard Goldwin.
”For Wormley & Jollup,” replied Felix, firmly.
”The large trunk manufacturers up Broadway?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Why didn't you remain with them?”
This question would have confused some boys, had they been in the place of Felix; but it did not affect him in the slightest degree, though the keen and practiced eye of the banker watched him closely.
”Why, don't you remember that Wormley & Jollup had a big strike in their factory?”
”Yes, the papers printed a great deal about it.”
”Well, you see, they couldn't get any trunks made; so business got dull in the store.”
”They wouldn't give in to the strikers, I believe?”
”No; and the result was they had to let a lot of us go.”
”It was an unfortunate affair. But I suppose you got a recommendation from Wormley & Jollup?”
”Yes, sir,” said Felix, with all the a.s.surance of one who was telling the truth; ”there it is--signed by Mr. Jollup himself.”
The letter was highly complimentary to Felix Mortimer.
”No one could ask for a better recommendation than this,” said the banker, looking as if he thought he had found a prize in the boy before him.
Had he suspected that this very recommendation was forged, he would have been angry. Now, however, he felt quite the reverse; and decided to give Herbert a hearing more as a matter of courtesy than otherwise, for he had practically settled upon young Mortimer for the position in his banking house.
Felix saw this and could hardly restrain his happiness, as he saw pictured on the young Vermonter's face unmistakable discomfiture.
”Well, you may be seated,” said Mr. Goldwin; ”I wish to see what this young man has to say for himself before engaging any one.”
”So you came from Vermont, right from the farm?” said the banker to Herbert, after a few minutes' conversation.
”Yes, sir,” returned young Randolph.
”And I suppose you expect to make your fortune in this city?”
”I have not got so far along as that yet, sir. I hope, however, that I shall do well here.”
”You look like a plucky lad, and those red cheeks of yours are worth a fortune. I remember well when mine were as full of rich young blood as yours are now. I was a country lad myself.”