hier the only
one who had his eye upon it.

"Of course I will have to begin low down so as to get a grasp upon the
details and technical points of the financial side of the business; but
I'm willing to learn. Here comes the governor now; I guess he has it
clinched."

If he did he certainly showed little signs of satisfaction as he came
up, for he simply glared at Dick.

"Come on, son, back to the store. I think you'll have to begin your
mercantile career behind a dry goods counter after all," he snarled.

"But the position that was open to me here, with a chance to rise?"
exclaimed Ferd, looking aghast at this unexpected explosion of his
hopes.

"It is open no longer, Mr. Gibbs himself filled it. And that young
interloper has stepped into your place," pointing his trembling finger
at Dick.

"What! _you?_" cried Ferd, hardly able to believe his ears,
"impossible!"

Just then the paying-teller called out.

"Richard, here is the letter to be sent registered; and on the way back
stop in at Underwoods and leave this notice of a note coming due
to-morrow."

"Yes, sir," said Dick, hurrying out; while Ferd followed more slowly, a
frown on his face and his teeth gritting with anger.

CHAPTER XI

FRIENDLY ADVISE

Being quick to learn, it did not take Dick long to grasp the scope of
his new duties, and by the end of the second week he had gained the good
will of every person connected with the bank, from the president down to
the porter--with one single exception.

This was Ross Goodwyn, the cashier.

Somehow that individual seemed to take it as a personal affront that
Dick had been chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the discharge of
Charles.

He had figured on filling it with his nephew, and since as a rule these
things were left to his discretion he felt very much aggrieved because
Mr. Gibbs had for once gone over his head.

Being a sensitive man he imagined that the other employees were forever
chuckling in their sleeves over his defeat, and hence he misconstrued
every little incident that arose to be a slur aimed at his vanished
authority.

It made him most unhappy.

And certainly Dick did not enjoy the thought of having this clever man
classed as his enemy, for in the course of his duties about the bank he
necessarily came into frequent contact with the cashier, and it was
unpleasant to feel that the other was eyeing him constantly, as though
ready to pick a flaw in his conduct.

Perhaps