Risen from the Ranks | Page 4

I fear you are
correct. However, I can be like a guide-post, which points the way
which it does not travel. Can you show Harry Walton--for that is his
name--where you propose to put him?"
"I am afraid I must give you a room in the attic," said Mrs. Anderson.
"Our house is small, and all the chambers on the second floor are
occupied."
"I am not at all particular," said Harry. "I have not been accustomed to
elegant accommodations."
"If you will follow me upstairs, I will show you your room."
Pausing on the third landing, Mrs. Anderson found the door of a small
but comfortable bed-room. There was no carpet on the floor, but it was
painted yellow, and scrupulously clean. A bed, two chairs, a bureau and
wash-stand completed the list of furniture.
"I shall like this room very well," said our hero.
"There is a closet," said the lady, pointing to a door in the corner. "It is
large enough to contain your trunk, if you choose to put it in there. I
hope you don't smoke."

"Oh, no, indeed," said Harry, laughing. "I haven't got so far along as
that."
"Mr. Anderson's last apprentice--he is a journeyman now--was a
smoker. He not only scented up the room, but as he was very careless
about lights, I was continually alarmed lest he should set the house on
fire. Finally, I got so nervous that I asked him to board somewhere
else."
"Is he working for Mr. Anderson now?"
"Yes; you probably saw him in the office."
"I saw two young men at the case."
"The one I speak of is the youngest. His name is John Clapp."
"There is no danger of my smoking. I don't think it would do me any
good. Besides, it is expensive, and I can't afford it."
"I see we think alike," said Mrs. Anderson, smiling. "I am sure we will
get along well together."
"I shall try not to give you any trouble," said our hero, and his tone,
which was evidently sincere, impressed Mrs. Anderson still more
favorably.
"You won't find me very hard to suit, I hope. I suppose you will be here
to supper?"
"If it will he quite convenient. My trunk is at the tavern, and I could
stay there till morning, if you wished."
"Oh, no, come at once. Take possession of the room now, if you like,
and leave an order to have your trunk brought here."
"Thank you. What is your hour for supper?"
"Half-past five."

"Thank you. I will go over and speak to Mr. Anderson a minute."
The editor looked up as Harry reappeared.
"Well, have you settled arrangements with Mrs. Anderson?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I believe so."
"I hope you like your room."
"It is very comfortable. It won't take me long to feel at home there."
"Did she ask you whether you smoked?"
"Yes, sir."
"I thought she would. That's where Clapp and she fell out."
Harry's attention was drawn to a thin, sallow young man of about
twenty, who stood at a case on the opposite side of the room.
"Mrs. Anderson was afraid I would set the house on fire," said the
young man thus referred to.
"Yes, she felt nervous about it. However, it is not surprising. An uncle
of hers lost his house in that way. I suppose you don't smoke, Walton?"
"No, sir."
"Clapp smokes for his health. You see how stout and robust he is," said
the editor, a little satirically.
"It doesn't do me any harm," said Clapp, a little testily.
"Oh, well, I don't interfere with you, though I think you would be better
off if you should give up the habit. Ferguson don't smoke."
This was the other compositor, a man of thirty, whose case was not far
distant from Clapp's.

"I can't afford it," said Ferguson; "nor could Clapp, if he had a wife and
two young children to support."
"Smoking doesn't cost much," said the younger journeyman.
"So you think; but did you ever reckon it up?"
"No."
"Don't you keep any accounts?"
"No; I spend when I need to, and I can always tell how much I have left.
What's the use of keeping accounts?"
"You can tell how you stand."
"I can tell that without taking so much trouble."
"You see we must all agree to disagree," said Mr. Anderson. "I am
afraid Clapp isn't going to be a second Benjamin Franklin."
"Who is?" asked Clapp.
"Our young friend here," said the editor.
"Oh, is he?" queried the other with a sneer. "It'll be a great honor I'm
sure, to have him in the office."
"Come, no chaffing, Clapp," said Mr. Anderson.
Harry hastened to disclaim the charge, for Clapp's sneer affected him
disagreeably.
"I admire Franklin," he