“Good-morning, Mr. Flint,” said the young man.

“Ah, it’s you, Walter, is it?” returned the other, a stout man, whose hair was beginning to grow gray.

“Yes.”

“I haven’t seen you for a long time.  Where have you been?”

“Rusticating in a Connecticut town.”

“Is the young man with you a brother?  But, no; I remember that you have no brother.”

“He isn’t related to me, but I think as much of him as if he were.  His name is Andrew Grant.”

“A good name.  Is he attending school?”

“He has recently left school.”

“If he were seeking a position I could find a place for him.”

“In your own employ?”

“Yes.  I have a boy, but I don’t find him reliable or faithful.  He will leave me on Saturday night.”

“Andy,” said his friend, “how would you like to enter Mr. Flint’s employ?”

“Very much,” answered Andy, eagerly.

At the same time he wondered what was the nature of Mr. Flint’s business.

“Then after dinner we will walk together to Mr. Flint’s store in Union Square.”

“There is my card,” said Mr. Flint.

Andy received it and read the name: 

    F. Flint,

    Union square.

    Jewelry.

The two men conversed together, and when dinner was over they walked up Broadway to Fourteenth Street.  Turning the left-hand corner, they soon reached a jewelry store of modest appearance, but evidently containing a valuable stock.

A youth with light-brown hair, who seemed to have been born tired, was leaning against the counter.  This, doubtless, was the boy who was not satisfactory.

“John,” said Mr. Flint, “have you carried the parcel to Forty-eighth Street?”

“No, sir,” answered the boy.

“Why not?”

“I thought it would do just as well after lunch.”

“There you are mistaken.  Put on your hat at once and go,” said his employer, sharply.

“You see,” went on Mr. Flint, after the boy had started, “the trouble I have with John.  He needs to be looked after continually.”

“You won’t have that trouble with Andy.”

“No, I think not.”

Walter Gale accompanied Mr. Flint to the back part of the store, where they held a conversation in a low tone.  Presently Walter Gale came back, and signified to Andy that they must be going.

“Mr. Flint will expect you to present yourself for duty on Tuesday morning,” he said.  “You will reach the store at eight o’clock.”

“All right, sir.”

On returning to the street, Walter Gale said: 

“I propose to take the next train for Philadelphia.  You may accompany me to the Cortlandt Street station.  Can you find your way from there to the Grand Central Depot?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You will get there in time to take the afternoon train back to Arden.  You haven’t asked me what salary you are to receive.”