Harry did not place much reliance on this assurance; but he felt that he could afford the loss of five dollars, if loss it should prove, and it might prevent Luke’s obtaining the money in a more questionable way.

“Where’s Mr. Anderson?” asked Clapp, looking round the office.

“He’s been in Michigan for a couple of months.”

“You don’t say so!  Why, who runs the paper?”

“Ferguson and I,” said Harry.

“I mean who edits it?”

“Harry does that,” said his fellow-workman.

“Whew!” ejaculated Clapp, in surprise.  “Why, but two years ago you was only a printer’s devil!”

“He’s risen from the ranks,” said Ferguson, “and I can say with truth that the ‘Gazette’ has never been better than since it has been under his charge.”

“How much does old Anderson pay you for taking his place?” asked Luke, who was quite as much surprised as Clapp.

“I don’t ask anything extra.  He pays me fifteen dollars a week as compositor.”

“You’re doing well,” said Luke, enviously.  “Got a big pile of money laid up, haven’t you?”

“I have something in the bank.”

“Harry writes stories for the Boston papers, also,” said Ferguson.  “He makes a hundred or two that way.”

“Some folks are born to luck,” said Clapp, discontentedly.  “Here am I, six or eight years older, out of a place, and without a cent to fall back upon.  I wish I was one of your lucky ones.”

“You might have had a few hundred dollars, at any rate,” said Ferguson, “if you hadn’t chosen to spend all your money when you were earning good wages.”

“A man must have a little enjoyment.  We can’t drudge all the time.”

“It’s better to do that than to be where you are now.”

But Clapp was not to be convinced that he was himself to blame for his present disagreeable position.  He laid the blame on fortune, like thousands of others.  He could not see that Harry’s good luck was the legitimate consequence of industry and frugality.

After a while the two left the office.  They decided to seek their old boarding-house, and remain there for a week, waiting for something to turn up.

The next day Harry received the following letter from Mr. Anderson:—­

“DEAR WALTON:  My brother urges me to settle permanently at the West.  I am offered a partnership in a paper in this vicinity, and my health has much improved here.  The West seems the place for me.  My only embarrassment is the paper.  If I could dispose of the ‘Gazette’ for two thousand dollars cash, I could see my way clear to remove.  Why can’t you and Ferguson buy it?  The numbers which you have sent me show that you are quite capable of filling the post of editor; and you and Ferguson can do the mechanical part.  I think it will be a good chance for you.  Write me at once whether there us any likelihood of your purchasing.