“H’m,” said Fox, thoughtfully.  Then after a moment, “I’ll see about it.”

Harvey went back to the outer office, and Fox turned at once to Bob.

“Well, how is it?” he asked.  “How did it happen?”

“I don’t know,” replied Bob.  “I’m trying, Mr. Fox.  Don’t think it isn’t that.  But it’s new to me, and I can’t seem to get the hang of it right away.”

“I see.  How long you been here?”

“A little over four months.”

Fox swung back in his chair leisurely.

“You must see you’re not fair to Harvey,” he announced.  “That man carries the details of four businesses in his head, he practically does the clerical work for them all, and he never seems to hurry.  Also, he can put his hand without hesitation on any one of these documents,” he waved his hand about the room.  “I can’t.”

He stopped to light the stub of a long-extinct cigar.

“I can’t make it hard for that sort of man.  So I guess we’ll have to take you out of the office.  Still, I promised Welton to give you a good try-out.  Then, too, I’m not satisfied in my own mind.  I can see you are trying.  Either you’re a damn fool or this college education racket has had the same effect on you as on most other young cubs.  If you’re the son of your father, you can’t be entirely a damn fool.  If it’s the college education, that will probably wear off in time.  Anyhow, I think I’ll take you up to the mill.  You can try the office there.  Collins is easy to get on with, and of course there isn’t the same responsibility there.”

In the buffeting of humiliation Bob could not avoid a fleeting inner smile over this last remark.  Responsibility!  In this sleepy, quiet backwater of a tenth-floor office, full of infinite little statistics that led nowhere, that came to no conclusion except to be engulfed in dark files with hundreds of their own kind, aimless, useless, annoying as so many gadflies!  Then he set his face for the further remarks.

“Navigation will open this week,” Fox’s incisive tones went on, “and our hold-overs will be moved now.  It will be busy there.  We shall take the eight o’clock train to-night.”  He glanced sharply at Bob’s lean, set face.  “I assume you’ll go?”

Bob was remembering certain trying afternoons on the field when as captain, and later as coach, he had told some very high-spirited boys what he considered some wholesome truths.  He was remembering the various ways in which they had taken his remarks.

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“Well, you can go home now and pack up,” said Fox.  “Jim!” he shot out in his penetrating voice; then to Harvey, “Make out Orde’s check.”

Bob closed his desk, and went into the outer office to receive his check.  Harvey handed it to him without comment, and at once turned back to his books.  Bob stood irresolute a moment, then turned away without farewell.

But Archie followed him into the hall.