“Oh, yes,” said John with alacrity.

“All right,” said Mr. Harum.  “You tell Timson what you want, an’ make him show you everythin’.  He understands, an’ I’ve paid him for’t.  He’s agreed to stay any time in reason ’t you want him, but I guess,” he added with a laugh, “’t you c’n pump him dry ’n a day or two.  It haint rained wisdom an’ knowlidge in his part o’ the country fer a consid’able spell.”

David stood for a moment drawing on his gloves, and then, looking at John with his characteristic chuckle, continued: 

“Allowed he’d ben drawin’ the hull load, did he?  Wa’al, sir, the truth on’t is ’t he never come to a hill yet, ’f ’t wa’n’t more ’n a foot high, but what I had to git out an’ push; nor never struck a turn in the road but what I had to take him by the head an’ lead him into it.”  With which Mr. Harum put on his overcoat and cap and departed.

* * * * *

Mr. Timson was leaning over the counter in animated controversy with a man on the outside who had evidently asserted or quoted (the quotation is the usual weapon:  it has a double barb and can be wielded with comparative safety) something of a wounding effect.

“No, sir,” exclaimed Chet, with a sounding slap on the counter, “no, sir!  The’ ain’t one word o’ truth in’t.  I said myself, ‘I won’t stan’ it,’ I says, ‘not f’m you ner nobody else,’ I says, ‘an’ what’s more,’ says I—­” The expression in the face of Mr. Timson’s tormentor caused that gentleman to break off and look around.  The man on the outside grinned, stared at John a moment, and went out, and Timson turned and said, as John came forward, “Hello!  The old man picked ye to pieces all he wanted to?”

“We are through for the day, I fancy,” said our friend, smiling, “and if you are ready to begin my lessons I am ready to take them.  Mr. Harum told me that you would be good enough to show me what was necessary.”

“All right,” said Mr. Timson readily enough, and so John began his first day’s work in David’s office.  He was surprised and encouraged to find how much his experience in Rush & Company’s office stood him in hand, and managed to acquire in a comparatively short time a pretty fair comprehension of the system which prevailed in “Harum’s bank,” notwithstanding the incessant divagations of his instructor.

It was decided between Timson and our friend that on the following day the latter should undertake the office work under supervision, and the next morning John was engaged upon the preliminaries of the day’s business when his employer came in and seated himself at his desk in the back room.  After a few minutes, in which he was busy with his letters, he appeared in the doorway of the front room.  He did not speak, for John saw him, and, responding to a backward toss of the head, followed him into the “parlor,” and at an intimation of the same silent character shut the doors.  Mr. Harum sat down at his desk, and John stood awaiting his pleasure.