"I went down into North Carolina with a lumber concern ten years ago,"
he said. "We roughed it in the mountains getting out timber, and had a
splendid time. I often wish I had kept at it. This indoor grind is
taking the life out of me. I seldom see the sun. Brick-mason, eh? Well,
the manager of our brick-and-stone work is in the rear office now,
talking to some applicants. Member of the union?"

"No, not yet," John answered. "But I'm going to join."

"Well, that is unfortunate, for I think Mr. Kline will fill his openings
right away, and we have to take union men in our work, to keep out of
all sorts of labor complications."

Mr. Reed seemed interested. He laid aside his work, and he and John
talked for nearly an hour, and when it finally came out that John had
assisted in some contracting work in the South and had an ambition to go
farther in the same line, Mr. Reed lowered his brows thoughtfully. In an
adjoining office Mr. Pilcher was at work dictating letters to a
stenographer and Reed suddenly excused himself and went in to him. John
noticed that he shut the door of the tiny office. He was gone ten
minutes or more and then he came back.

"The truth is, Mr. Trott," he said, a touch of business-like reserve
showing itself in his manner for the first time, "we are really in need
of office help. I mean the kind of a man that could do both inside and
outside work. Mr. Richer is getting old and is not able to do much. He
says he would like to talk to you. Would you mind going in?"

Pilcher was a brusk, dyspeptic individual who seemed to be overworked,
but John liked him and was convinced of his fairness and honesty. They
had only chatted a few minutes when the old man called out to his
partner and asked him to come in.

Reed made his appearance at once. "We might give Mr. Trott a trial in
the office," he said. "What do you think?"

"I haven't yet spoken to Mr. Trott of the salary," Reed said. "Have you
mentioned it, Mr. Pilcher?"

"No, but I thought you had."

"At the start it could not be more than twenty a week," the junior
member said, "but there would be a chance, if you caught on readily to
the work, for an increase later on.

"I had hoped to do better than that," John answered, frankly. "I want
to make a start at contracting, but I am a good brick-mason, and I can,
by working overtime, occasionally earn more at that, I think."

"Yes, perhaps," Pilcher admitted, and he threw a glance at his partner
w