"if I was to lose what little I've
got, an' had to give up livin' in the way I was used to, an' couldn't
even keep a hoss, I c'n allow 't I might be willin' fer a change of
scene to make a fresh start in. Yes, sir, I guess I would. Wa'al,"
looking at his watch, "I've got to go now, an' I'll see ye later, mebbe.
You feel like takin' holt to-day?"

"Oh, yes," said John with alacrity.

"All right," said Mr. Harum. "You tell Timson what you want, an' make
him show you everythin'. He understands, an' I've paid him for't. He's
agreed to stay any time in reason 't you want him, but I guess," he
added with a laugh, "'t you c'n pump him dry 'n a day or two. It haint
rained wisdom an' knowlidge in his part o' the country fer a consid'able
spell."

David stood for a moment drawing on his gloves, and then, looking at
John with his characteristic chuckle, continued:

"Allowed he'd ben drawin' the hull load, did he? Wa'al, sir, the truth
on't is 't he never come to a hill yet, 'f 't wa'n't more 'n a foot
high, but what I had to git out an' push; nor never struck a turn in the
road but what I had to take him by the head an' lead him into it." With
which Mr. Harum put on his overcoat and cap and departed.

* * * * *

Mr. Timson was leaning over the counter in animated controversy with a
man on the outside who had evidently asserted or quoted (the quotation
is the usual weapon: it has a double barb and can be wielded with
comparative safety) something of a wounding effect.

"No, sir," exclaimed Chet, with a sounding slap on the counter, "no,
sir! The' ain't one word o' truth in't. I said myself, 'I won't stan'
it,' I says, 'not f'm you ner nobody else,' I says, 'an' what's more,'
says I--" The expression in the face of Mr. Timson's tormentor caused
that gentleman to break off and look around. The man on the outside
grinned, stared at John a moment, and went out, and Timson turned and
said, as John came forward, "Hello! The old man picked ye to pieces all
he wanted to?"

"We are through for the day, I fancy," said our friend, smiling, "and if
you are ready to begin my lessons I am ready to take them. Mr. Harum
told me that you would be good enough to show me what was necessary."

"All right," said Mr. Timson readily enough, and so John began his first
day's work in David's office. He was surprised and encouraged to find
how much his experience in Rush & Company's office stood him in hand,
and ma