FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119  
120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   >>   >|  
ered in an ecstasy of expectant delight. Cameron walked nonchalantly to Mr. Bates' desk, his overcoat on his arm, his cap in his hand. "Good morning, Sir," he said. Mr. Bates finished writing a sentence, looked up, and nodded a brief good morning. "We deposit our street attire on the hooks behind the door, yonder!" he said with emphatic politeness, pointing across the room. Cameron flushed, as in passing his desk he observed the pleased smile on the lanky boy's sallow face. "You evidently were not aware of the hours of this office," continued Mr. Bates when Cameron had returned. "We open at eight o'clock." "Oh!" said Cameron, carelessly. "Eight? Yes, I thought it was eight! Ah! I see! I believe I am five minutes late! But I suppose I shall catch up before the day is over!" "Mr. Cameron," replied Mr. Bates earnestly, "if you should work for twenty years for the Metropolitan Transportation & Cartage Company, never will you catch up those five minutes; every minute of your office hours is pledged to the company, and every minute has its own proper work. Your desk is the one next Mr. Jacobs, yonder. Your work is waiting you there. It is quite simple, the entry of freight receipts upon the ledger. If you wish further instructions, apply to me here--you understand?" "I think so!" replied Cameron. "I shall do my best to--" "Very well! That is all!" replied Mr. Bates, plunging his head again into his papers. The office staff sank back to work with every expression of disappointment. A moment later, however, their hopes revived. "Oh! Mr. Cameron!" called out Mr. Bates. Mr. Cameron returned to his desk. "If you should chance to be late again, never mind going to your desk; just come here for your cheque." Mr. Bates' tone was kindly, even considerate, as if he were anxious to save his clerk unnecessary inconvenience. "I beg your pardon!" stammered Cameron, astonished. "That is all!" replied Mr. Bates, his nose once more in his papers. Cameron stood hesitating. His eye fell upon the boy, Jimmy, whose face expressed keenest joy. "Do you mean, Sir, that if I am late you dismiss me forthwith?" "What?" Mr. Bates' tone was so fiercely explosive that it appeared to throw up his head with a violent motion. Cameron repeated his question. "Mr. Cameron, my time is valuable; so is yours. I thought that I spoke quite distinctly. Apparently I did not. Let me repeat: In case you should inadvertently be
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119  
120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Cameron

 

replied

 

office

 

thought

 

minutes

 
returned
 

yonder

 

morning

 

papers

 
minute

expression

 
moment
 

understand

 

chance

 

revived

 

disappointment

 

plunging

 

called

 

unnecessary

 

appeared


violent

 

motion

 

repeated

 

explosive

 

fiercely

 

dismiss

 

forthwith

 

question

 

repeat

 

inadvertently


Apparently

 
valuable
 

distinctly

 

keenest

 

inconvenience

 
pardon
 

anxious

 

considerate

 

cheque

 

kindly


stammered

 

astonished

 

expressed

 

hesitating

 

flushed

 

passing

 
pointing
 

politeness

 

emphatic

 

observed