gh. But I'll wager anything
you like, that in his company you will circumnavigate the globe without
having done any work harder than spending money. No, no, my dear boy,
'Torpid' is not the chap to encourage either mental or physical effort
in his associates. Better hunt some other companion, or even go by
your lonely, if you really want to accomplish anything."

These words recurred to our lad many times during the day, and when he
finally fell asleep that night, after fruitlessly wondering who of his
many friends he should recommend to President Hepburn, they were still
ringing in his ears.

CHAPTER II.

AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

Thorpe Walling had never been one of Cabot Grant's particular friends,
nor did the latter now regard with unmixed pleasure the idea of a
year's intimate association with him. He had accepted the latter's
invitation because nothing else seemed likely to offer, and he could
not bear to have the other fellows, especially those whose class
standing had secured them positions, imagine that he was not also in
demand. Besides, the thought of a trip around the world was certainly
very enticing; any opposition to the plan would have rendered him the
more desirous of carrying it out. But in his interview with his
guardian he had gained his point so easily that the concession
immediately lost half its value. Even as he wrote his note to Thorpe
he wondered if he really wanted to go with him, and after that
conversation in the club reading-room he was almost certain that he did
not. If Mr. Hepburn had only offered him employment, how gladly he
would have accepted it and declined Thorpe's invitation; but his
guardian had merely asked him to recommend some one else.

"Which shows," thought Cabot bitterly, "what he thinks of me, and of my
fitness for any position of importance. He is right, too, for if ever
a fellow threw away opportunities, I have done so during the past four
years. And now I am deliberately going to spend another, squandering
my last dollar, in company with a chap who will have no further use for
me when it is gone. It really begins to look as though I were about
the biggest fool of my acquaintance."

It was in this frame of mind that our young engineer made a second
visit to his guardian's office on the following morning. There he was
received by Mr. Hepburn with the same business-like abruptness that had
marked their interview of the day before.

"Good-morning,