Rae & Macpherson been such as to impress upon him the necessity
of a close observation of the flight of time. It did not disturb him,
therefore, to notice as he strolled into the offices of the Metropolitan
Transportation & Cartage Company the next morning that the hands of the
clock showed six minutes past the hour fixed for the beginning of
the day's work. The office staff shivered in an ecstasy of expectant
delight. Cameron walked nonchalantly to Mr. Bates' desk, his overcoat on
his arm, his cap in his hand.
"Good morning, Sir," he said.
Mr. Bates finished writing a sentence, looked up, and nodded a brief
good morning.
"We deposit our street attire on the hooks behind the door, yonder!" he
said with emphatic politeness, pointing across the room.
Cameron flushed, as in passing his desk he observed the pleased smile on
the lanky boy's sallow face.
"You evidently were not aware of the hours of this office," continued
Mr. Bates when Cameron had returned. "We open at eight o'clock."
"Oh!" said Cameron, carelessly. "Eight? Yes, I thought it was eight! Ah!
I see! I believe I am five minutes late! But I suppose I shall catch up
before the day is over!"
"Mr. Cameron," replied Mr. Bates earnestly, "if you should work for
twenty years for the Metropolitan Transportation & Cartage Company,
never will you catch up those five minutes; every minute of your office
hours is pledged to the company, and every minute has its own proper
work.
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