But for Ben's caution he would have had another fifty dollars in his
possession.
CHAPTER VII.
BEN'S DINNER-GUEST.
Ben slowly retraced his steps to where he had left his friend, Tom
Cooper.
"Well," said the bootblack, "did you see Fitch and Ferguson?"
"Yes," answered Ben soberly; "that is, I saw one of them."
"Did you take the place?"
"No; I found he was too anxious for my fifty dollars, though he
offered after a while to take me for thirty."
Tom Cooper laughed derisively.
"I'll do better nor that," he said. "If you'll give me twenty
dollars, I'll make you my private secretary, payin' you ten dollars
a week."
"How long will you keep me?" asked Ben, smiling.
"Six days," answered Tom. "Then I'll have to sack you without pay,
'cause you don't understand your business."
"Is that the way they manage?" asked Ben.
The bootblack nodded.
Ben looked grave. The disappointment was a serious one, and he felt
now how much he had relied upon the promises of Fitch & Ferguson. He
had formed no other plans, and it seemed likely that he must return
to the country to resume his old life. Yet that seemed
impracticable. There was no opening there unless he accepted one of
the two offers already made him.
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