“I’ve got almost all the help I need, but I might take him on,” he said, slowly.  “One of my present boys does not suit me at all.  He is too impudent.”

“Well, Joe is never impudent and he is very reliable,” answered Andrew Mallison.

“I’ll give you a trial.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“The wages will depend upon whether you board here or outside.”

“How much will you give me if I stay at the hotel?”

“Four dollars a week.”

“And what if I board outside?”

“Nine dollars a week.”

“Can you give the boy a pretty fair room?” asked Andrew Mallison.  “I know yo’ll like him after he has been here a while.”

“He can have a room with another boy.  That lad yonder,” and the proprietor of the Grandon House pointed with his hand.

Joe looked and saw that the other lad was gentlemanly looking and rather pleasant.

“It will suit me to stay here, I think,” he said.  “Anyway, I am willing to try it.”

“When can you come to work?”

“Right away—­or at least, as soon as I can get my suit case from where I have been stopping.”

“Then come in after dinner and I’ll tell you what to do and turn you over to my head man.  Randolph, come here!”

At the call a bell boy came up.

“This is another boy who is to work here,” said Arthur Drew.  “He will room with you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Drew, I’ll be glad to get rid of Jack Sagger,” said Frank Randolph.

“What’s your name?” he went on to our hero.

“Joe Bodley.”

“Mine is Frank Randolph.  I guess we’ll get along all right.”

“I hope so, Frank,” said Joe, and shook hands.

There was a little more talk and then Joe left, to get his dress suit case and a few other things which belonged to him.  By one o’clock he was back to the Grandon House, and just in time to see Andrew Mallison going away.

“I am much obliged, Mr. Mallison, for what you have done,” said our hero, warmly.

“You’re welcome, Joe,” answered the hotel man.  “I take an interest in you and I trust you do well here.”

“I shall do my best.”

After Andrew Mallison had gone Joe was shown around the hotel and instructed in his various duties.  Occasionally he was to do bell-boy duty, but usually he was to be an all-around helper for the office.

“I think you’ll like it here,” said Frank Randolph.  “It’s the best hotel I’ve ever worked in.  Mr. Drew is a perfect gentleman.”

“I am glad to hear it, Frank,” answered our hero.

The room assigned to the two boys was a small one on the top floor of the hotel.  But it was clean, contained two nice cots, and Joe felt it would suit him very well.  Frank had hung up a few pictures and had a shelf full of books and this made the apartment look quite home-like.

“I’m going to buy some books myself, this winter,” said Joe.  “And when I get time I am going to do some studying.”