go home and dress up, and apply
for a position as telegraph boy."

When Rodney came home at supper time he found Mike, dressed in his
Sunday suit.

"What's up now, Mike?" he asked. "Have you retired from business?"

"Yes, from the bootblack business. Tomorrow I shall be a telegraph boy."

"That is good. You haven't saved up ten dollars, have you?"

"I saved up two, and a lady gave me ten dollars for findin' her
pocketbook."

"That's fine, Mike."

There chanced to be a special demand for telegraph boys at that time,
and Mike, who was a sharp lad, on passing the necessary examination, was
at once set to work.

He was immensely fond of his blue uniform when he first put it on, and
felt that he had risen in the social scale. True, his earnings did not
average as much, but he was content with smaller pay, since the duties
were more agreeable.

In the evenings under Rodney's instruction he devoted an hour and
sometimes two to the task of making up the deficiencies in his early
education. These were extensive, but Mike was naturally a smart boy, and
after a while began to improve rapidly.

So three months passed. Rodney stood well in with Mr. Goodnow, and
was promoted to stock clerk. The discipline which he had revived as
a student stood him in good stead, and enabled him to make more rapid
advancement than some who had been longer in the employ of the firm. In
particular he was promoted over the head of Jasper Redwood, a boy two
years older than himself, who was the nephew of an old employee who had
been for fifteen years in the house.

Jasper's jealousy was aroused, and he conceived a great dislike for
Rodney, of which Rodney was only partially aware.

For this dislike there was really no cause. Rodney stood in his way only
because Jasper neglected his duties, and failed to inspire confidence.
He was a boy who liked to spend money and found his salary insufficient,
though he lived with his uncle and paid but two dollars a week for his
board.

"Uncle James," he said one day, "when do you think I will get a raise?"

"You might get one now if it were not for the new boy."

"You mean Ropes."

"Yes, he has just been promoted to a place which I hoped to get for
you."

"It is mean," grumbled Jasper. "I have been here longer than he."

"True, but he seems to be Mr. Goodnow's pet. It was an unlucky day for
you when he got a place in the establishment."

"Did you ask Mr. Goodnow to promote me?"

"Yes, but he