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Graham. Besides, Eben's mother interceded for him, and the father, in bitterness of spirit, was about to mail a registered letter to Mrs. Jones, when the cause of his anguish suddenly made his appearance in the store.

β€œHow are you, father?” he said, nonchalantly, taking a cigar from his mouth. β€œDidn't expect to see me, did you?”

β€œWhat brings you here, Eben?” asked Mr. Graham, uneasily.

β€œWell, the cars brought me to Stockton, and I've walked the rest of the way.”

β€œI've heard of you,” said his father, frowning. β€œI got a letter last night from Mrs. Jones.”

β€œShe said she was going to write,” said Eben, shrugging his shoulders.

β€œHow came it,” said his father, his voice trembling with anger, β€œthat you haven't paid your board bill for six weeks?”

β€œI didn't have the money,” said Eben, with a composure which was positively aggravating to his father.

β€œAnd why didn't you have the money? Your wages are ample to pay all your expenses.”

β€œIt costs more money to live in Boston than you think for, father.”

β€œDon't you get ten dollars a week, sir? At your age I got only seven, and saved two dollars a week.”

β€œYou didn't live in Boston, father.”

β€œI didn't smoke cigars,” said his father, angrily, as he fixed his eye on the one his son was smoking. β€œHow much did you pay for that miserable weed?”

β€œYou're mistaken, father. It's a very good article. I paid eight dollars a hundred.”

β€œEight dollars a hundred!” gasped Mr. Graham. β€œNo wonder you can't pay your board billβ€”I can't afford to spend my money on cigars.”

β€œOh, yes, you can, father, if you choose. Why, you're a rich man.”

β€œA rich man!” repeated Mr. Graham, nervously. β€œIt would take a rich man to pay your bills. But you haven't told me why you have come home.”

β€œI lost my situation, fatherβ€”some meddlesome fellow told my employer that I occasionally played a game of pool, and my tailor came to the store and dunned me; so old Boggs gave me a long lecture and my walking papers, and here I am.”

Ebenezer Graham was sorely troubled, and, though he isn't a favorite of mine, I confess, that in this matter he has my sincere sympathy.





CHAPTER IV. HERBERT LOSES HIS PLACE.

Ebenezer Graham with some difficulty ascertained from Eben that he had other bills, amounting in the aggregate to forty-seven dollars. This added to the board bill, made a total of seventy-seven dollars. Mr. Graham's face elongated perceptibly.

β€œThat is bad enough,” he said; β€œbut you have lost your income also, and that makes matters worse. Isn't there a chance of the firm taking you back?”

β€œNo, sir,” replied the prodigal. β€œYou see, we had a flare up, and I expressed my opinion of them pretty plainly. They wouldn't take me back if I'd come for nothing.”

β€œAnd they won't give you a recommendation, either?” said Ebenezer, with a half groan.

β€œNo, sir; I should say not.”

β€œSo you have ruined your prospects so far as Boston is concerned,” said his father, bitterly. β€œMay I ask how you expect to get along?”

β€œI have a plan,” said Eben, with cheerful confidence.

β€œWhat is it?”

β€œI would like to go to California. If I can't get any situation in San Francisco, I can go to the mines.”

β€œVery fine, upon my word!” said his father, sarcastically. β€œAnd how do you propose to get to California?”

β€œI can go either by steamer, across the isthmus, or over the Union Pacific road.”

β€œThat isn't what I mean. Where are you to get the money to pay your fare with?”

β€œI suppose you will supply that,” said Eben.

β€œYou do? Well, it strikes me you have some assurance,” ejaculated Mr. Graham. β€œYou expect me to advance hundreds of dollars, made by working early and late, to support a spendthrift son!”

β€œI'll pay you back as soon as I am able,” said Eben, a little abashed.

β€œNo doubt! You'd pay me in the same way you pay your board bills,” said Ebenezer, who may be excused for the sneer. β€œI can invest my money to better advantage than upon you.”

β€œThen, if you will not do that,” said Eben, sullenly, β€œI will leave you to suggest a plan.”

β€œThere is only one plan I can think of, Eben. Go back to your old place in the store. I will dismiss the Carr boy, and you can attend to the post office, and do the store work.”

β€œWhat, go back to tending a country grocery, after being a salesman in a city store!” exclaimed Eben, disdainfully.

β€œYes, it seems the only thing you have left. It's your own fault that you are not still a salesman in the city.”

Eben took the cigar from his mouth, and thought rapidly.

β€œWell,” he said, after a pause, β€œif I agree to do this, what will you pay me?”

β€œWhat will I pay you?”

β€œYes, will you pay me ten dollars a weekβ€”the same as I got at Hanbury & Deane's?”

β€œTen dollars a week!” ejaculated Ebenezer, β€œI don't get any more than that myself.”

β€œI guess there's a little mistake in your calculations, father,” said Eben, significantly. β€œIf you don't make at least forty dollars a week, including the post office, then I am mistaken.”

β€œSo you areβ€”ridiculously mistaken!” said his father, sharply. β€œWhat you presume is entirely out of the question. You forget that you will be getting your board, and Tom Tripp only received a dollar and a half a week without board.”

β€œIs that all you pay to Herbert Carr?”

β€œI pay him a leetle more,” admitted Ebenezer.

β€œWhat will you give me?”

β€œI'll give you your board and clothes,” said Ebenezer, β€œand that seems to be more than you made in Boston.”

β€œAre you in earnest?” asked Eben, in genuine dismay.

β€œCertainly. It isn't a bad offer, either.”

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