"I guess the porter racket hasn't a leg to stand on, for you see they've
got a man and his family on the payroll, and he looks after the furnace
in the winter, as well as does all the sweeping out and such menial
tasks. But it might be possible that they could make room for you as my
assistant. You see duties have kept piling up on me all the time, and
I'm the hardest worked man in the institution just at the present
minute."
Charles did not even smile as he made this monstrous assertion; he saw
his opportunity for tying the hands of the other, and was slyly playing
his little game with that idea in view.
Dick did not believe one half that the other said, and yet he was so
anxious to get in touch with some one in this place of business that he
could not see any harm in pretending to take Charles seriously.
"Will you put in a good word for me, then, Charlie?" he asked.
"Sure I will. I don't forget that you did me a bully favor one time when
I was trying some fancy stunts backward on my skates, and tumbled
through a hole in the ice. Say, I'll watch for a chance to speak to Mr.
Gibbs the first time he calls me in to talk over business matters. If
he's in a pleasant frame of mind he may tell me to get help, and I'll
speak of you. But see here, old fellow, you mustn't expect to have the
salary I receive in the beginning. I don't suppose they'd think of
paying more than ten dollars to start with.
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