“I hope you’ll enjoy your trip, sir.”
“Thank you. Of course it will terminate,
for a time at least your engagement to teach Arthur.”
“I shall be sorry for that, sir, but I am not
selfish enough to want you to stay at home on that
account.”
“I thought you would feel that way. I wish
I could procure you another position before I go,
but that is uncertain. I shall, however, pay you
a month’s salary in advance in lieu of a notice.”
“That is very liberal, sir.”
“I think it only just. I have been very
well pleased with your attention to Arthur, and I
know he has profited by your instructions as well
as enjoyed your companionship. I hope you have
been able to save something.”
“Yes, sir, I have something in the Union Dime
Savings Bank.”
“That’s well. You will remain with
me one week longer, but the last week Arthur will
need for preparations.”
Two weeks later Rodney stood on the pier and watched
the stately Etruria steam out into the river.
Arthur and his father were on deck, and the little
boy waved his handkerchief to his tutor as long as
he could see him.
Rodney turned away sadly.
“I have lost a good situation,” he soliloquized.
“When shall I get another?”
CONTINUED ILL LUCK.
Rodney set himself to work searching for a new situation.
But wherever he called he found Some one ahead of
him. At length he saw an advertisement for an
entry clerk in a wholesale house in Church Street.
He applied and had the good fortune to please the superintendent.
“Where have you worked before?” he asked.
“At Otis Goodnow’s, on Reade Street.”
“How much were you paid there?”
“Seven dollars a week.”
“Very well, we will start you on that salary,
and see if you earn it.”
Rodney was surprised and relieved to find that he
was not asked for a recommendation from Mr. Goodnow,
knowing that he could not obtain one. He went
to work on a Monday morning, and found his duties congenial
and satisfactory.
Seven dollars a week was small, compared with what
he had received as a tutor, but he had about two hundred
and fifty dollars in the Union Dime Savings Bank and
drew three dollars from this fund every week in order
that he might still assist Mike, whose earnings were
small.
One of his new acquaintances in the store was James
Hicks, a boy about a year older than himself.
“Didn’t you use to work at Otis Goodnow’s?”
asked James one day when they were going to lunch.
“Yes.”
“I know a boy employed there. He is older
than either of us.”
“Who is it?”
“Jasper Redwood. Of course you know him.”
“Yes,” answered Rodney with a presentiment
of evil.
He felt that it would be dangerous to have Jasper
know of his present position, but did not venture
to give a hint of this to James.
