firm of Gifford &
Company saw that their employees fared well.

"I declare!" said Jack to himself, "it's the first full meal I've had
since last week Wednesday! I was starved."

On went the press, and the young pressman sat doggedly at his task; but
he was all the while watching things in the store and hearing whatever
there was to hear.

"I know their prices pretty well," he thought. "Most of the things are
marked--ever so much lower than Crofield prices, too."

He had piles of printed bags of different sizes ready for use, now
lying around him.

"Time to get at some of those circulars," he was saying, as he arose
from his seat at the press and stepped out behind the counter.

"Five pounds of coffee," said a lady, before the counter, in a tone of
vexation. "I've waited long enough. Mocha and Java, mixed."

"Thirty-five cents," said Jack.

"Quick, then," said she, and he darted away to fill her order.

"Three and a half pounds of powdered sugar," said another lady, as he
passed her.

"Yes, ma'am," said Jack.

"How much is this soap?" asked a stout old woman, and Jack remembered
that price too.

He was not at all aware that anybody was watching him; but he was just
telling another customer about tea and baking-soda when he felt a hand
upon his shoulder.

"See here," demanded Mr. Gifford, "what are you doing behind the
counter?"

"I was afraid they'd get tired of waiting and go somewhere else," said
Jack. "I know something about waiting on customers. Yes, ma'am,
that's a fine tea. Forty-eight cents. Half pound? Yes ma'am. In a
jiffy, Mr. Gifford;--there are bags enough for to-day."

"I think you may stay," said the head of the house. "I didn't need
another boy; but I begin to think I do need a blacksmith, a carpenter,
a printer, and a good sharp salesman." As he was turning away he
added, "It's surprising how quickly he has picked up our prices."

Jack's fingers were trembling nervously, but his face brightened as he
did up that package.

Mr. Gifford waited while the Crofield boy answered yet another customer
and sold some coffee, and told Jack to go right on.

"Come to the desk," he then said. "I don't even know your name. Come."

Very hot and yet a little shaky was Jack as he followed; but Mr.
Gifford was not a verbose man.

"Mr. Jones," he said to the head clerk, "please take down his
name;--what is it?"

"John Ogden, sir," and after other questions and answers, Mr. Gifford
s