."

"What made you think so?"

"He didn't give satisfaction at the mill. He was discharged."

"So was I."

"But not for the same reasons," said Sam. "It was because times
were dull."

"I rather think Ben's work was satisfactory enough, but you
influenced your father against him."

"How much pay does he get?" inquired Sam.

"More than he received at the mill."

"I wonder whether all this is true," considered Sam. "James Watson
is Ben's friend and he may represent things better than they are."

An excellent plan suggested itself to Sam. He would ask his father's
permission to go to Boston and pass a day or two with his friend,
Frank Ferguson. This would allow him to drop into Jones & Porter's
store and judge for himself how Ben was situated.

Sam had no trouble about obtaining permission.

On reaching the city he decided to call at the store before going to
his friend's residence.

Ben was dusting books, when a glance toward the door revealed
the entrance of Sam. The latter had cherished a faint hope that
James had deceived him, and that Ben was really not employed.

"How shall I receive him?" Ben asked himself.

He decided to treat him coolly, but not to quarrel.

"Good morning, Bradford," said Sam.

"Good morning, Archer," was the return greeting.

Sam didn't quite like this familiarity.

"How do you like working here?"

"Very much," answered Ben. "Much better than in the mill," he
added significantly.

"I shouldn't think they'd have taken a green country boy," suggested
Sam pleasantly.

"Perhaps they wouldn't if a friend hadn't written for me," said Ben
with a meaning glance at Sam.

"How much pay do you get?"

"I would rather not say."

"Because it is so small," said Sam, with a sneer.

"On the contrary, I look upon it as liberal. I am doing better than if I
had remained at Milltown."

This was bad news for Sam.

"I am really obliged to the person who wrote the letter which
secured me the position," Ben added.

"It isn't much of a business to dust books."

"I sell books sometimes," said Ben, smiling. "Can I show you
something this morning."

"No, I don't want anything. Where do you live?"

"I board on Warren Avenue."

"In a cheap boarding-house?"

"There are some very nice people who board there."

Sam came to a sudden decision. Would it be possible to induce
Ben to give up his place, and enter the mill again? He could be
discharged after awhile, and cast adr