Risen from the Ranks | Page 3

weeks of idleness
all that he had been able to save when employed, and thus at the end of
the year finds himself, through no fault of his own, no better off than at
the beginning. Finding himself out of work, our hero visited other shoe
establishments in the hope of employment. But his search was in vain.
Chance in this emergency made him acquainted with Professor
Henderson, a well-known magician and conjurer, whose custom it was
to travel, through the fall and winter, from town to town, giving public
exhibitions of his skill. He was in want of an assistant, to sell tickets
and help him generally, and he offered the position to our hero, at a
salary of five dollars a week. It is needless to say that the position was
gladly accepted. It was not the business that Harry preferred, but he
reasoned justly that it was honorable, and was far better than remaining
idle. He found Professor Henderson as he called himself, a considerate
and agreeable employer, and as may be inferred from the conversation
with which this chapter begins, his services were very satisfactory. At
the close of the six months, he had the satisfaction of paying the note
which his father had given, and so of disappointing the selfish schemes
of the grasping creditor.
This was not all. He met with an adventure while travelling for the
Professor, in which a highwayman who undertook to rob him, came off

second best, and he was thus enabled to add fifty dollars to his savings.
His financial condition at the opening of the present story has already
been set forth.
Though I have necessarily omitted many interesting details, to be found
in "Bound to Rise," I have given the reader all the information required
to enable him to understand the narrative of Harry's subsequent
fortunes.
CHAPTER 11.
THE PRINTING OFFICE.
Jotham Anderson, editor and publisher of the "Centreville Gazette,"
was sitting at his desk penning an editorial paragraph, when the office
door opened, and Harry Walton entered.
"Good-morning, Mr. Anderson," said our hero, removing his hat.
"Good-morning, my friend. I believe you have the advantage of me,"
replied the editor.
Our hero was taken aback. It didn't occur to him that the engagement
was a far less important event to the publisher than to himself. He
began to be afraid that the place had not been kept open for him.
"My name is Harry Walton," he explained. "I was travelling with Prof.
Henderson last winter, and called here to get some bills printed."
"Oh yes, I remember you now. I agreed to take you into the office,"
said the editor, to Harry's great relief.
"Yes, air."
"You haven't changed your mind, then?--You still want to be a
printer?"
"Yes, sir."

"You have left the Professor, I suppose."
"I left him yesterday."
"What did he pay you?"
"Five dollars a week. He offered me six, if I would stay with him."
"Of course you know that I can't pay you any such wages at present."
"Yes, sir. You agreed to give me my board the first month, and two
dollars a week for six months afterward."
"That is all you will be worth to me at first. It is a good deal less than
you would earn with Professor Henderson."
"I know that, sir; but I am willing to come for that."
"Good. I see you are in earnest about printing, and that is a good sign. I
wanted you to understand just what you had to expect, so that you need
not be disappointed."
"I sha'n't be disappointed, sir," said Harry confidently. "I have made up
my mind to be a printer, and if you didn't receive me into your office, I
would try to get in somewhere else."
"Then no more need be said. When do you want to begin?"
"I am ready any time."
"Where is your trunk?"
"At the tavern."
"You can have it brought over to my house whenever you please. The
hotel-keeper will send it over for you. He is our expressman. Come into
the house now, and I will introduce you to my wife."
The editor's home was just across the street from his printing office.

Followed by Harry he crossed the street, opened the front door, and led
the way into the sitting-room, where a pleasant-looking lady of middle
age was seated.
"My dear," he said, "I bring you a new boarder."
She looked at Harry inquiringly.
"This young man," her husband explained, "is going into the office to
learn printing. I have taken a contract to make a second Benjamin
Franklin of him."
"Then you'll do more for him than you have been able to do for
yourself," said Mrs. Anderson, smiling.
"You are inclined to be severe, Mrs. Anderson, but