"From the small business he goes to bigger
business. First thing you know a man wants him for a big job and off he
goes. Meantime he saves his money, invests wisely. Soon he is his own
boss."
"That's fine!" cried Miss Brodie. "Go on, Mr. Martin. Start him lower
down."
"All right," said Martin, directing his attention solely to the young
lady. "Here's an actual case. A young fellow from Scotland found himself
strapped--"
"Strapped? What DOES he mean?" said "Lily" in an appealing voice.
"On the rocks."
"Rocks?"
"Dear me!" cried Miss Brodie impatiently. "You are terribly lacking in
imagination. Broke, he means."
"Oh, thanks!"
"Well, finds himself broke," said Martin; "gets a shovel, jumps into a
cellar--"
"And why a cellar, pray?" inquires "Lily" mildly. "To hide himself from
the public?"
"Not at all; they were digging a cellar preparatory to building a
house."
"Oh!"
"He jumps in, blisters his hands, breaks his back--but he stays with the
job. In a week the boss makes him timekeeper; in three months he himself
is boss of a small gang; the next year he is made foreman at a hundred a
month or so."
"A hundred a month?" cries "Lily" in astonishment. "Oh, Martin, please!
We are green, but a hundred pounds a month--!"
"Dollars," said Martin shortly.
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