Now, there is not one person in a thousand who would not have been conquered morally as well as physically by an experience like that of Max Zeigler.  Such an utter overthrow would have made the bully the close friend and champion of the other; but it was altogether different with Zeigler.  Before his swelled lip and bulging nose had resumed their normal appearance, he resumed his petty persecutions as before.  Those who knew of the bout in the back room (and, indeed, every clerk quickly learned the particulars) urged Tom to lay out his enemy so effectually that he would stay laid out.

Young Gordon, however, chose the better course.  He affected the same indifference as before, and frequently did not seem to hear the words of his enemy.  The hardest duty Tom had to do was to keep back the scathing retorts of which he thought so often, and which would have silenced Zeigler.  Nothing, indeed, is more difficult for a high-spirited person than to bridle his tongue under the lashings of another. How few of us are equal to the task!

Chapter XXI.

Only two or three incidents worthy of note fell to the lot of Tom Gordon during his second year in the employ of Josiah Warmore.

At the beginning of the year he was promoted, and received a considerable increase of salary.  The situation given to him belonged by right of seniority of service to Max Zeigler, and was looked upon as a certainty by him.  He was so indignant at the snub, that he made no effort to conceal his feelings.  While the hurt rankled, he went to Mr. Warmore and demanded an explanation.  He got it, and resigned forthwith.  No one regretted to see him go, and least of all Tom Gordon, who gave a sigh of thankfulness at the removal of the thorn from his side.

It was strange how Mr. Warmore found out everything about his employees.  Often they felt astonishment, and could not understand by what means he picked up knowledge they were often certain was only known to themselves.  Thus he learned at an early date the petty persecutions suffered by Tom at the hands of Zeigler; and there can be little doubt that that information was one cause of the fellow receiving such a marked set-back.  Then he knew as much of that wrestling and boxing bout as if he had been a witness.  There is reason to suspect he was secretly pleased at the issue, though he would never admit it.  It is not wise at all times for the teacher or employer to let those under his charge know the extent of his knowledge of their doings.  In other words, it is not always best to see what you do see.

Mr. Warmore was a reserved man.  He was kind, but just, toward his clerks.  He established a free reading-room in Bellemore, saw that every employee had his regular vacation each summer or whenever he preferred it, encouraged them to be frugal and moral, gave them good advice, forbade coarseness of language or profanity, and hired a pew in each of the two leading churches, which were always at the disposal of his young men without any expense to them.